Methods and systems for chemoautotrophic production of organic compounds

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure identifies pathways, mechanisms, systems and methods to confer chemoautotrophic production of carbon-based products of interest, such as sugars, alcohols, chemicals, amino acids, polymers, fatty acids and their derivatives, hydrocarbons, isoprenoids, and intermediates thereof, in organisms such that these organisms efficiently convert inorganic carbon to organic carbon-based products of interest using inorganic energy, such as formate, and in particular the use of organisms for the commercial production of various carbon-based products of interest.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/354,354, which is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/US2012/062540, filed Oct. 30, 2012, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/285,919, filed on Oct. 31, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under contract number DE-AR0000091 awarded by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of ARPA-E. The government has certain rights in the invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a sequence listing (.txt file named Sequence Listing, generated on May 27, 2014 and is 180,540 bytes in size) which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is incoprorated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to systems, mechanisms and methods to confer chemoautotrophic production of carbon-based products to a heterotrophic organism to efficiently convert inorganic carbon into various carbon-based products using chemical energy, and in particular the use of such organism for the commercial production of various carbon-based products of interest. The invention also relats to systems, mechanisms and methods to confer additional and/or alternative pathways for chemoautotrophic producion of carbon-based products to an organism that is already autotrophic or mixotrophic.

BACKGROUND

Heterotrophs are biological organisms that utilize energy from organic compounds for growth and reproduction. Commercial production of various carbon-based products of interest generally relies on heterotrophic organisms that ferment sugar from crop biomass such as corn or sugarcane as their energy and carbon source [Bai, 2008]. An alternative to fermentation-based bio-production is the production of carbon-based products of interest from photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, algae and cyanobacteria, that derive their energy from sunlight and their carbon from carbon dioxide to support growth [U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,647]. However, the algae-based production of carbon-based products of interest relies on the relatively inefficient process of photosynthesis to supply the reducing power needed for production of organic compounds from carbon dioxide [Larkum, 2010]. Moreover, commercial production of carbon-based products of interest using photosynthetic organisms relies on reliable and consistent exposure to light to achieve the high productivities needed for economic feasibility; hence, photobioreactor design remains a significant technical challenge [Morweiser, 2010].

Chemoautotrophs are biological organisms that utilize energy from inorganic energy sources such as molecular hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia or ferrous iron, and carbon dioxide to produce all organic compounds necessary for growth and reproduction. Existing, naturally-occuring chemoautotrophs are poorly suited for industrial bio-processing and have therefore not demonstrated commercial viability for this purpose. Such organisms have long doubling times (minimum of approximately one hour for Thiomicrospira crunogena but generally much longer) relative to industrialized heterotrophic organisms such as Escherichia coli (twenty minutes), reflective of low total productivities. In addition, techniques for genetic manipulation (homologous recombination, transformation or transfection of nucleic acid molecules, and recombinant gene expression) are inefficient, time-consuming, laborious or non-existent.

Accordingly, the ability to endow an otherwise heterotrophic organism with chemoautotrophic capability would significantly enable more energy- and carbon-efficient production of carbon-based products of interest. Alternatively, the ability to add one or more additional or alternative pathways for chemoautotrophic capability to an autotrophic or mixotrophic organism would enhance its ability to produce carbon-based products on interest.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of the present invention provide for efficient production of renewable energy and other carbon-based products of interest (e.g., fuels, sugars, chemicals) from inorganic carbon (e.g., greenhouse gas) using inorganic energy. As such, the present invention materially contributes to the development of renewable energy and/or energy conservation, as well as greenhouse gas emission reduction. Furthermore, systems and methods of the present invention can be used in the place of traditional methods of producing chemicals such as olefins (e.g., ethylene, propylene), which are traditionally derived from petroleum in a process that generates toxic by-products that are recognized as hazardous waste pollutants and harmful to the environment. As such, the present invention can additionally avoid the use of petroleum and the generation of such toxic by-products, and thus materially enhances the quality of the environment by contributing to the maintenance of basic life-sustaining natural elements such as air, water and/or soil by avoiding the generation of hazardous waste pollutants in the form of petroleum-derived by-products in the production of various chemicals.

In certain aspect, the invention described herein provides an organism engineered to confer chemoautotrophic production of various carbon-based products of interest from inorganic carbon and inorganic energy. The engineered organism comprises a modular metabolic architecture encompassing three metabolic modules. The first module comprises one or more energy conversion pathways that use energy from an inorganic energy source, such as formate, formic acid, methane, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfide anion, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, molecular hydrogen, ferrous iron, ammonia, cyanide ion, and/or hydrocyanic acid, to produce reduced cofactors inside the cell, such as NADH, NADPH, ubiquinol, menaquinol, cytochromes, flavins and/or ferredoxin. The second module comprises one or more carbon fixation pathways that use energy from reduced cofactors to convert inorganic carbon, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formate, formic acid, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, cyanide ion and/or hydrocyanic acid, to central metabolites, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, pyruvic acid, 3-hydropropionate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, glycolate, glycolic acid, glyoxylate, glyoxylic acid, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, malate, malic acid, lactate, lactic acid, acetate, acetic acid, citrate and/or citric acid. Optionally, the third module comprises one or more carbon product biosynthetic pathways that convert central metabolites into desired products, such as carbon-based products of interest. Carbon-based products of interest include but are not limited to alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, wax esters, hydrocarbons, alkanes, polymers, fuels, commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, carotenoids, isoprenoids, sugars, sugar phosphates, central metabolites, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates.

The resulting engineered chemoautotroph of the invention is capable of efficiently synthesizing carbon-based products of interest from inorganic carbon using inorganic energy. The invention also provides energy conversion pathways, carbon fixation pathways and carbon product biosynthetic pathways for conferring chemoautotrophic production of the carbon-based product of interest upon the host organism where the organism lacks the ability to efficiently produce carbon-based products of interest from inorganic carbon using inorganic energy. The invention also provides methods for culturing the engineered chemoautotroph to support efficient chemoautotrophic production of carbon-based products of interest.

In one aspect, the present invention provides an engineered cell for producing a carbon-based product of interest. The engineeted cell includes an at least partially engineered energy conversion pathway having at least one of a recombinant formate dehydrogenase and a recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase introduced into a host cell, wherein said energy conversion pathway is capable of using energy from oxidation to produce a reduced cofactor. The engineeted cell also includes a carbon fixation pathway that is capable of converting inorganic carbon to a central metabolite using energy from the reduced cofactor. The engineeted cell further includes, optionally, a carbon product biosynthetic pathway that is capable of converting the central metabolite into a carbon-based product of interest.

In certain embodiments, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase reduces NADP⁺. For example, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase can be encoded by SEQ ID NO:1, or a homolog thereof having at least 80% sequence identity thereto. In some embodiments, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase reduces NAD⁺. In an example, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase can be encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs:2-4, or a homolog thereof having at least 80% sequence identity thereto. In other embodiments, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase reduces ferredoxin. As an example, the recombinant formate dehydrogenase can be encoded by one or more of SEQ ID NOs:5-8, or a homolog thereof having at least 80% sequence identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase reduces quinone. For example, the recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase can be encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs:9-16, or a homolog thereof having at least 80% sequence identity thereto.

In some embodiments, the energy conversion pathway includes the recombinant formate dehydrogenase and the energy from oxidation is from formate oxidation. The energy conversion pathway can also include the recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase and the energy from oxidation can be from hydrogen sulfide oxidation.

In various embodiments, the inorganic carbon is one or more of formate and carbon dioxide.

In certain embodiments, the carbon fixation pathway can be at least partially engineered and can be derived from the 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HPA) bicycle. The carbon fixation pathway can include one or more of: acetyl-CoA carboxylase, malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase, (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase, mesaconyl-C1-CoA hydratase or β-methylmalyl-CoA dehyratase, mesaconyl-CoA C1-C4 CoA transferase and mesaconyl-C4-CoA hydratase.

In some embodiments, the carbon fixation pathway can be at least partially engineered and can be derived from the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) cycle. In one embodiment, said carbon fixation pathway can include one or more of: hexulose-6-phosphate synthase, 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase, hexulose-6-phosphate synthase/6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase fusion enzyme, phosphofructokinase, fructose bisphosphate aldolase, transketolase, transaldolase, transketolase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase and ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase.

In some embodiments, said carbon fixation pathway can be at least partially engineered and can be derived from the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or the reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle. For example, the carbon fixation pathway can include one or more of: ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, phosphoglycerate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase (phosphorylating), triose-phosphate isomerase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, fructose-bisphosphatase, transketolase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate aldolase, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase, transketolase, ribose-5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase and phosphoribulokinase.

In certain embodiments, said carbon fixation pathway can be at least partially engineered and can be derived from the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle. In some embodiments, the carbon fixation pathway can include one or more of: ATP citrate lyase, citryl-CoA synthetase, citryl-CoA lyase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate dehydratase, fumarate reductase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoglutarate carboxylase, oxalosuccinate reductase, aconitate hydratrase, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an overview of modular architecture of an engineered chemoautotroph. An engineered chemoautotroph comprises three metabolic modules. (1) In Module 1, one or more energy conversion pathways that use energy from an extracellular inorganic energy source, such as formate, hydrogen sulfide, molecular hydrogen, or ferrous iron, to produce reduced cofactors inside the cell, such as NADH, NADPH, reduced ferredoxin and/or reduced quinones or cytochromes. Depicted examples of energy conversion pathways include formate dehydrogenase (FDH), hydrogenase (H₂ase), and sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase (SQR). (2) In Module 2, one or more carbon fixation pathways that use energy from reduced cofactors to reduce and convert inorganic carbon, such as carbon dioxide, formate and formaldehyde, to central metabolites, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, glycolate, glyoxylate, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Depicted examples of carbon fixation pathways include the 3-hydroxypropionate cycle (3-HPA), the reverse or reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA), and the ribulose monophosphate pathway (RuMP). (3) Optionally, in Module 3, one or more carbon product biosynthetic pathways that convert central metabolites into desired products, such as carbon-based products of interest. Since there are many possible carbon-based products of interest, no individual pathways are depicted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing architecture.

FIG. 3 depicts the metabolic reactions of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle [Evans, 1966; Buchanan, 1990; Hiigler, 2011]. Each reaction is numbered. For certain reactions, such as reaction 1 and 7, there are two possible routes denoted by a and b, each of which is catalyzed by different enzyme(s). Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1a, ATP citrate lyase (E.C. 2.3.3.8); 1b, citryl-CoA synthetase (E.C. 6.2.1.18) and citryl-CoAlyase (E.C. 4.1.3.34); 2, malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37); 3, fumarate dehydratase or fumarase (E.C. 4.2.1.2); 4, fumarate reductase (E.C. 1.3.99.1); 5, succinyl-CoA synthetase (E.C. 6.2.1.5); 6, 2-oxoglutarate synthase or 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.2.7.3); 7a, isocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.41 or E.C. 1.1.1.42); 7b, 2-oxoglutarate carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.7) and oxalosuccinate reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.41); 8, aconitate hydratrase (E.C. 4.2.1.3); 9, pyruvate synthase or pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.2.7.1); 10, phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase (E.C. 2.7.9.2); 11, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.31).

FIG. 4 depicts example metabolic reactions and enzymes needed to engineer a carbon fixation pathway derived from the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle into the heterotroph Escherichia coli. Reactions in black are are known to occur in the wildtype host cell E. coli when grown in microaerobic or anaerobic conditions [Cronan, 2010]. Reactions in dark gray must be added to complete the rTCA-derived carbon fixation cycle in E. coli. The carbon input to the pathway is carbon dioxide (CO₂) and the carbon outputs of the pathway are acetyl-coA and/or pyruvate. The desired net flow of carbon is indicated by the wide, light gray arrow. Metabolites are shown in bold and enzyme abbreviations are as follows: AspC, aspartate aminotransferase; MDH, malate dehydrogenase; AspA, aspartate ammonia-lyase; FumB, fumarase B; FRD, fumarate reductase; STK, succinate thiokinase; OGOR, 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase; IDH, isocitrate dehydrogenase; ACN, aconitase; ACL, ATP-citrate lyase; POR, pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase.

FIG. 5 depicts the metabolic reactions of the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle [Holo, 1989; Strauss, 1993; Eisenreich, 1993; Herter, 2002a; Zarzycki, 2009; Zarzycki, 2011]. Each reaction is numbered. In some cases, multiple different reactions, such as reactions 10a, 10b and 10c, are catalyzed by the same multi-functional enzyme. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.2); 2, malonyl-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.2.1.75 and E.C. 1.1.1.298); 3, propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-); 4, propionyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.3); 5, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (E.C. 5.1.99.1); 6, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (E.C. 5.4.99.2); 7, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-); 8, succinate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.3.5.1); 9, fumarate hydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.2); 10abc, (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase (E.C. 4.1.3.24 and E.C. 4.1.3.25); 11, mesaconyl-C1-CoA hydratase or β-methylmalyl-CoA dehyratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-); 12, mesaconyl-CoA C1-C4 CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-); 13, mesaconyl-C4-CoA hydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-).

FIG. 6 depicts example metabolic reactions and enzymes needed to engineer a carbon fixation pathway derived from the 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HPA) bicycle into the heterotroph Escherichia coli. Reactions in black are reported to occur in the wildtype host cell E. coli. Reactions in dark gray must be added to complete the 3-HPA bicycle-derived carbon fixation cycle in E. coli. The carbon input to the pathway is bicarbonate (HCO₃ ⁻) and the carbon output of the pathway is glyoxylate. The desired net flow of carbon is indicated by the wide, light gray arrow. Metabolites are shown in bold and enzyme abbreviations are as follows: PCC, propionyl-CoA carboxylase; MCR, malonyl-CoA reductase; PCS, propionyl-CoA synthase; MCE, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase; ScpA, E. coli methylmalonyl-CoA mutase; SDH, E. coli succinate dehydrogenase; FumA/FumB/FumC, three E. coli fumarate hydratases; SmtAB, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase; MMC lyase, (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase. Note that methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase activity has been reported in E. coli although no corresponding gene or gene product has been identified [Evans, 1993].

FIG. 7 depicts the metabolic reactions of the ribulose monophosphate cycle [Strom, 1974]. In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (E.C. 4.1.2.43); 2, 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.27); 3, phosphofructokinase (E.C. 2.7.1.11); 4, fructose bisphosphate aldolase (E.C. 4.1.2.13); 5, transketolase (E.C. 2.2.1.1); 6, transaldolase (E.C. 2.2.1.2); 7, transketolase (E.C. 2.2.1.1); 8, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.6); 9, ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (E.C. 5.1.3.1).

FIG. 8 depicts example metabolic reactions and enzymes needed to engineer a carbon fixation pathway derived from the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) cycle into the heterotroph Escherichia coli. Reactions in black occur in the wildtype host cell E. coli. Reactions in dark gray must be added to complete the RuMP cycle-derived carbon fixation cycle in E. coli. The carbon input to the pathway is formaldehyde and the carbon output of the pathway is dihydroxyacetone-phosphate. The desired net flow of carbon is indicated by the wide, light gray arrow. For simplicity, a series of rearrangement reactions that regenerate ribulose-5-phosphate and all occur natively in E. coli are denoted by a single arrow. Metabolites are shown in bold with —P denoting phosphate. Enzyme abbreviations are as follows: HPS, hexulose-6-phosphate synthase; PHI, 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase; PFK, phosphofructokinase.

FIG. 9 depicts the metabolic reactions of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or the reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle [Bassham, 1954]. In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.39); 2, phosphoglycerate kinase (E.C. 2.7.2.3); 3, glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase (phosphorylating) (E.C. 1.2.1.12 or E.C. 1.2.1.13); 4, triose-phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.1); 5, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (E.C. 4.1.2.13); 6, fructose-bisphosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.11); 7, transketolase (E.C. 2.2.1.1); 8, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate aldolase (E.C. 4.1.2.-); 9, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.37); 10, transketolase (E.C. 2.2.1.1); 11, ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.6); 12, ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (E.C. 5.1.3.1); 13, phosphoribulokinase (E.C. 2.7.1.19).

FIG. 10 depicts example metabolic reactions and enzymes needed to engineer a carbon fixation pathway derived from the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or the reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle into the heterotroph Escherichia coli. Reactions in black occur in the wildtype host cell E. coli. Reactions in dark gray must be added to complete the RPP cycle-derived carbon fixation cycle in E. coli. The carbon input to the pathway is carbon dioxide and the carbon output of the pathway is dihydroxyacetone-phosphate. The desired net flow of carbon is indicated by the wide, light gray arrow. Metabolites are shown in bold with —P denoting phosphate. Enzyme abbreviations are as follows: RuBisCO, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase; PGK, phosphoglycerate kinase; GAPDH, NADPH-dependent glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase (phosphorylating); TPI, triose-phosphate isomerase; FBA, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase; FBPase, fructose-bisphosphatase; TK, transketolase; SBA, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate aldolase; SBPase, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase; RPI, ribose-5-phosphate isomerase; RPE, ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase; PRK, phosphoribulokinase.

FIG. 11 provides a schematic to convert succinate or 3-hydroxypropionate to various chemicals.

FIG. 12 provides a schematic of glutamate or itaconic acid conversion to various chemicals.

FIG. 13 depicts the metabolic reactions of a galactose biosynthetic pathway. In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, alpha-D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.9); 2, D-mannose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.8); 3, D-mannose 6-phosphate 1,6-phosphomutase (E.C. 5.4.2.8); 4, mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.7.22); 5, GDP-mannose 3,5-epimerase (E.C. 5.1.3.18); 6, galactose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.n.n); 7, L-galactose 1-phosphate phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.n).

FIG. 14 depicts different fermentation pathways from pyruvate to ethanol. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, pyruvate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.1); 2, alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1); 3, pyruvate-formate lyase (E.C. 2.3.1.54); 4, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.10); 5, pyruvate synthase (E.C. 1.2.7.1).

FIG. 15 depicts the metabolic reactions of the mevalonate-independent pathway (also known as the non-mevalonate pathway or deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) pathway) for production of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and its isomer dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (E.C. 2.2.1.7); 2, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (E.C. 1.1.1.267); 3, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (E.C. 2.7.7.60); 4, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.148); 5, 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (E.C. 4.6.1.12); 6, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 1.17.7.1); 7, isopentyl/dimethylallyl diphosphate synthase or 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (E.C. 1.17.1.2).

FIG. 16 depicts the metabolic reactions of the mevalonate pathway (also known as the HMG-CoA reductase pathway) for production of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and its isomer dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, acetyl-CoAthiolase; 2, HMG-CoA synthase (E.C. 2.3.3.10); 3, HMG-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.34); 4, mevalonate kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.36); 5, phosphomevalonate kinase (E.C. 2.7.4.2); 6, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.33); 7, isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.3.2).

FIG. 17 depicts the metabolic reactions of the glycerol/1,3-propanediol biosynthetic pathway for production of glycerol or 1,3-propanediol. In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, sn-glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.8 or 1.1.1.94); 2, sn-glycerol-3-phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.21); 3, sn-glycerol-3-P. glycerol dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.30); 4, 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.1.1.202).

FIG. 18 depicts the metabolic reactions of the polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthetic pathway. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, acetyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase (E.C. 2.3.1.9); 2, (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA:NADP+ oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.1.1.36); 3, polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (E.C. 2.3.1.-).

FIG. 19 depicts the metabolic reactions of one lysine biosynthesis pathway. In metabolite names, —P denotes phosphate. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, aspartate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1); 2, aspartate kinase (E.C. 2.7.2.4); 3, aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.11); 4, dihydrodipicolinate synthase (E.C. 4.2.1.52); 5, dihydrodipicolinate reductase (E.C. 1.3.1.26); 6, tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase (E.C. 2.3.1.117); 7, N-succinyldiaminopimelate-aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.17); 8, N-succinyl-L-diaminopimelate desuccinylase (E.C. 3.5.1.18); 9, diaminopimelate epimerase (E.C. 5.1.1.7); 10, diaminopimelate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.20).

FIG. 20 depicts the metabolic reactions of the γ-valerolactone biosynthetic pathway. Each reaction is numbered. Enzymes catalyzing each reaction are as follows: 1, propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-); 2, beta-ketothiolase (E.C. 2.3.1.16); 3, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.36); 4, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.55); 5, vinylacetyl-CoA Δ-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.3.3); 6, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-); 7, 1,4-lactonase (E.C. 3.1.1.25).

FIG. 21 depicts the spectrophotometric assay results of in vitro formate dehydrogenase (FDH) assays for strains propagating plasmid 2430, plasmid 2429 as well as positive and negative control. The positive control is commercially available purified NAD⁺-dependent FDH enzyme. The negative control is a strain propagating a plasmid without an FDH-encoding gene. For each strain, assay results are shown with for both NADP⁺ and NAD⁺ as the cofactor, as indicated. The reduction of either NADP⁺ or NAD⁺ is monitored by measuring the absorbance at 340 nm.

FIG. 22 depicts the spectrophotometric assay results of sulfide oxidation assays for strain propagating plasmid 4767, plasmid 4768 and a negative control plasmid (a plasmid without a constitutive promoter upstream of the sqr gene). Depletion of sulfide over time is monitored by measuring the absorbance at 670 nm after treatment of the samples with Cline reagent [Cline, 1969].

FIG. 23 depicts the spectrophotometric assay results of in vitro propionyl-CoA synthase (PCS) assays for strain propagating plasmid 4986 as well as a negative control plasmid containing no pcs gene. For the strain propagating plasmid 4986, assay results are shown with all required substrates as well as control reactions that omit one of the required substrates, as indicated. The oxidation of NADPH is monitored by measuring the absorbance at 340 nm.

FIG. 24 depicts hydrogenase assay results for strains 242 (at three different dilutions), 312 and 392. Hydrogenase activity is measured by monitoring the reduction of the electron acceptor methyl viologen; hence, the y axis is denoted in μmol of reduced methyl viologen.

FIG. 25 depicts a standard curve correlating the rate of NADH formation by a commercially available formate dehydrogenase as a function of formate concentration in the sample.

FIG. 26 depicts the branched tricarboxylic acid cycle run by E. coli when grown under anaerobic conditions. If the gene encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase (Icd) is rendered non-functional (denoted by Xs), then synthesis of 2-oxoglutarate is restored through introduction of a functional 2-oxoglutarate synthase (OGOR, bold gray arrow). Metabolite names are denoted in bold.

FIG. 27 depicts computed phenotypic phase planes for E. coli strains with the native formate dehydrogenases deleted in either the absence (A and C) or presence (B and D) of an exogenous NAD⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenase. The growth conditions are aerobic with dual carbon sources of formate and either glucose (A and B) or glycolate (C and D).

FIG. 28 depicts computed phenotypic phase planes during growth on formate as a sole carbon source for wildtype E. coli (A), E. coli with native formate dehydrogenases deleted (B) and E. coli with native formate dehydrogenases deleted and an exogenous NAD⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenase added (C).

FIG. 29 depicts the required mass transfer coefficient (K_(L)a) and required reactor volume for 0.5 t/d of fuel production, as a function of maximum fuel productivity for isooctanol, assuming fuel production from inorganic energy source H₂ and inorganic carbon source CO₂ for an ideal engineered chemoautotroph. On the y axis, the typical range of K_(L)a in large-scale stirred-tank bioreactors is denoted (A). On the x axis, reported natural formate uptake rates at industrially relevant culture densities is denoted (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to developing and using engineered chemoautotrophs capable of utilizing energy from inorganic energy sources and inorganic carbon to produce a desired product. The invention provides for the engineering of a heterotrophic organism, for example, Escherichia coli or other organism suitable for commercial large-scale production of fuels and chemicals, that can efficiently utilize inorganic energy sources and inorganic carbon as a substrate for growth (a chemoautotroph) and for chemical production provides cost-advantaged processes for manufacturing of carbon based products of interest. The organisms can be optimized and tested rapidly and at reasonable costs. The invention further provides for the engineering of an autotrophic organism to include one or more additional or alternative pathways for utilization of inorganic energy sources and inorganic carbon to produce central metabolites for growth and/or other desired products.

Inorganic energy sources together with inorganic carbon represent an alternative feedstock to sugar or light plus carbon dioxide for the production of carbon-based products of interest. There exist non-biological routes to convert inorganic energy sources and inorganic carbon to chemicals and fuels of interest. For example, the Fischer-Tropsch process consumes carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas generated from gasification of coal or biomass to produce methanol or mixed hydrocarbons as fuels [U.S. Pat. No. 1,746,464]. The drawbacks of Fischer-Tropsch processes are: 1) a lack of product selectivity, which results in difficulties separating desired products; 2) catalyst sensitivity to poisoning; 3) high energy costs due to high temperatures and pressures required; and 4) the limited range of products available at commercially competitive costs. Without the advent of carbon sequestration technologies that can operate at scale, the Fischer-Tropsch process is widely considered to be an environmentally costly method for generating liquid fuels. Alternatively, processes that rely on naturally occurring microbes that convert synthesis gas or syngas, a mixture of primarily molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be obtained via gasification of any organic feedstock, such as coal, coal oil, natural gas, biomass, or waste organic matter, to products such as ethanol, acetate, methane, or molecular hydrogen are available [Henstra, 2007]. However, these naturally occurring microbes can produce only a very restricted set of products, are limited in their efficiencies, lack established tools for genetic manipulation, and are sensitive to their end products at high concentrations. Finally, there is some work to introduce syngas utilization into industrial microbial hosts [U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,589]; however, these processes have yet to be demonstrated at commercial scale and are limited to using syngas as the feedstock.

In some embodiments, the invention provides for the use of an inorganic energy source, such as molecular hydrogen or formate, derived from electrolysis. There is tremendous commercial activity towards the goal of renewable and/or carbon-neutral energy from solar voltaic, geothermal, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric and more. However, most of these technologies produce electricity and are thus limited in use to the electrical grid [Whipple, 2010]. Furthermore, at least some of these renewable energy sources such as solar and wind suffer from being intermittent and unreliable. The lack of practical, large scale electricity storage technologies limits how much of the electricity demand can be shifted to renewable sources. The ability to store electrical energy in chemical form, such as in carbon-based products of interest, would both offer a means for large-scale electricity storage and allow renewable electricity to meet energy demand from the transportation sector. Renewable electricity combined with electrolysis, such as the electrochemical production of hydrogen from water [for example, WO/2009/154753, WO/2010/042197, WO/2010/028262 and WO/2011/028264] or formate/formic acid from carbon dioxide [for example, WO/2007/041872], opens the possibility of a sustainable, renewable supply of the inorganic energy source as one aspect of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the invention provides for the use of an inorganic energy source, such as hydrogen sulfide or molecular hydrogen, derived from waste streams. For example, hydrogen sulfide is present in waste streams arising from both hydrodesulfurization processes used during oil recovery and desulfurization of natural gas. Indeed, currently many oil companies stockpile elemental sulfur (the oxidation product of hydrogen sulfide) since worldwide production exceeds demand [Ober, 2010]. As lower quality oil deposits with higher sulfur contents (5% w/w) open up to drilling, the expectation is that global sulfur supply will continue to grow. As a second example, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are off-gas by-products of clostridial acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentations.

In some embodiments, the invention provides for the use of an inorganic carbon source, such as carbon dioxide, derived from waste streams. For example, carbon dioxide is a component of synthesis gas, the major product of gasification of coal, coal oil, natural gas, and of carbonaceous materials such as biomass materials, including agricultural crops and residues, and waste organic matter. Additional sources include, but are not limited to, production of carbon dioxide as a byproduct in ammonia and hydrogen plants, where methane is converted to carbon dioxide; combustion of wood and fossil fuels; production of carbon dioxide as a byproduct of fermentation of sugar in the brewing of beer, whisky and other alcoholic beverages, or other fermentative processes; thermal decomposition of limestone, CaCO₃, in the manufacture of lime, CaO; production of carbon dioxide as byproduct of sodium phosphate manufacture; and directly from natural carbon dioxide springs, where it is produced by the action of acidified water on limestone or dolomite. As a second example, formaldehyde is an oxidation product of methanol or methane. Methanol can be prepared from synthesis gas or reductive conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen by chemical synthetic processes. Methane is a major component of natural gas and can also be obtained from renewable biomass.

In one embodiment, the invention provides for the inorganic energy source and the inorganic carbon coming from the same chemical species, such as formate or formic acid. Formate is oxidized by an energy conversion pathway to generate reduced cofactor and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide can then be used as the inorganic carbon source.

The invention provides for the expression of one or more exogenous proteins or enzymes in the host cell, thereby conferring biosynthetic pathway(s) to utilize inorganic energy sources and inorganic carbon to produce reduced organic compounds. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides for a modular architecture for the metabolism of the engineered chemoautotroph comprising the following three metabolic modules (FIG. 1).

-   -   In Module 1, one or more energy conversion pathways that use         energy from an extracellular inorganic energy source, such as         formate, hydrogen sulfide, molecular hydrogen, or ferrous iron,         to produce reduced cofactors inside the cell, such as NADH,         NADPH, reduced ferredoxin and/or reduced quinones or         cytochromes.     -   In Module 2, one or more carbon fixation pathways that use         energy from reduced cofactors to reduce and convert inorganic         carbon, such as carbon dioxide or formate, to central         metabolites, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, glycolate,         glyoxylate, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate.     -   Optionally, in Module 3, one or more carbon product biosynthetic         pathways that convert central metabolites into desired products,         such as carbon-based products of interest.

A key advantage of a modular architecture for the metabolism of an engineered chemoautotroph is that each module may be instantiated via one or more possible biosynthetic pathways. For example, in Module 1, there are several possible energy conversion pathways, such as those based on formate dehydrogenase (e.g., E.C. 1.2.1.2, E.C. 1.2.1.43, E.C. 1.1.5.6, E.C. 1.2.2.1 or E.C. 1.2.2.3), ferredoxin-dependent formate dehydrogenase, hydrogenase (e.g., E.C. 1.12.1.2, E.C. 1.12.1.3, or E.C. 1.12.7.2), sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase (e.g., E.C. 1.8.5.4), flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase (e.g., E.C. 1.8.2.3), ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (e.g., E.C. 1.18.1.2), ferredoxin-NAD⁺ reductase (e.g., E.C. 1.18.1.3), NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase (e.g., E.C. 1.6.1.1 or E.C. 1.6.1.2), NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase I (e.g., E.C. 1.6.5.3). As a second example, in Module 2, there are several possible naturally occurring carbon fixation pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or reductive pentose phosphate cycle, the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, the Wood-Ljungdhal or reductive acetyl-coA pathway, the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle or 3-hydroxypropionate/malyl-CoA cycle, 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle and the dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle [Hügler, 2011] as well as many possible synthetic carbon fixation pathways [Bar-Even, 2010]. As a final example, in Module 3, there are numerous possible carbon-based products of interest, each of which has one or more corresponding biosynthetic pathways. Every combination of energy conversion pathway, carbon fixation pathway and, optionally, carbon product biosynthetic pathway, when expressed in a heterotrophic or autotrophic host cell or organism, represents a different embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted, however, that only certain embodiments of Module 1 may be paired with a particular embodiment of Module 2. For example, the reductive tricarboxlic acid cycle likely requires a low potential ferredoxin for particular carbon dioxide fixation steps in the pathway. Thus, the energy conversion pathway paired with the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle must be capable of generating reduced low potential ferredoxin, such as using a ferredoxin-reducing formate dehydrogenase or a ferredoxin-reducing hydrogenase (E.C. 1.12.7.2). Similarly, only certain embodiments of carbon fixation pathways produce the necessary precursors for a particular carbon product biosynthetic pathway. For example, fatty acid biosynthetic pathways require acetyl-coA and malonyl-coA to be generated products from the carbon fixation pathway.

The invention is described herein with general reference to the metabolic reaction, reactant or product thereof, or with specific reference to one or more nucleic acids or genes encoding an enzyme associated with or catalyzing, or a protein associated with, the referenced metabolic reaction, reactant or product. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, those skilled in the art would understand that reference to a reaction also constitutes reference to the reactants and products of the reaction. Similarly, unless otherwise expressly stated herein, reference to a reactant or product also references the reaction, and reference to any of these metabolic constituents also references the gene or genes encoding the enzymes that catalyze or proteins involved in the referenced reaction, reactant or product. Likewise, given the well-known fields of metabolic biochemistry, enzymology and genomics, reference herein to a gene or encoding nucleic acid also constitutes a reference to the corresponding encoded enzyme and the reaction it catalyzes or a protein associated with the reaction as well as the reactants and products of the reaction.

Definitions

As used herein, the terms “nucleic acids,” “nucleic acid molecule” and “polynucleotide” may be used interchangeably and include both single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) RNA, DNA and RNA:DNA hybrids. As used herein the terms “nucleic acid”, “nucleic acid molecule”, “polynucleotide”, “oligonucleotide”, “oligomer” and “oligo” are used interchangeably and are intended to include, but are not limited to, a polymeric form of nucleotides that may have various lengths, including either deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, or analogs thereof. For example, oligos may be from 5 to about 200 nucleotides, from 10 to about 100 nucleotides, or from 30 to about 50 nucleotides long. However, shorter or longer oligonucleotides may be used. Oligos for use in the present invention can be fully designed. A nucleic acid molecule may encode a full-length polypeptide or a fragment of any length thereof, or may be non-coding.

Nucleic acids can refer to naturally-occurring or synthetic polymeric forms of nucleotides. The oligos and nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be formed from naturally-occurring nucleotides, for example forming deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. Alternatively, the naturally-occurring oligonucleotides may include structural modifications to alter their properties, such as in peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or in locked nucleic acids (LNA). The terms should be understood to include equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs and as applicable to the embodiment being described, single-stranded or double-stranded polynucleotides. Nucleotides useful in the invention include, for example, naturally-occurring nucleotides (for example, ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides), or natural or synthetic modifications of nucleotides, or artificial bases. Modifications can also include phosphorothioated bases for increased stability.

Nucleic acid sequences that are “complementary” are those that are capable of base-pairing according to the standard Watson-Crick complementarity rules. As used herein, the term “complementary sequences” means nucleic acid sequences that are substantially complementary, as may be assessed by the nucleotide comparison methods and algorithms set forth below, or as defined as being capable of hybridizing to the polynucleotides that encode the protein sequences.

As used herein, the term “gene” refers to a nucleic acid that contains information necessary for expression of a polypeptide, protein, or untranslated RNA (e.g., rRNA, tRNA, anti-sense RNA). When the gene encodes a protein, it includes the promoter and the structural gene open reading frame sequence (ORF), as well as other sequences involved in expression of the protein. When the gene encodes an untranslated RNA, it includes the promoter and the nucleic acid that encodes the untranslated RNA.

The term “gene of interest” (GOI) refers to any nucleotide sequence (e.g., RNA or DNA), the manipulation of which may be deemed desirable for any reason (e.g., has the relevant activity for a biosynthetic pathway, confer improved qualities and/or yields, expression of a protein of interest in a host cell, expression of a ribozyme, etc.), by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such nucleotide sequences include, but are not limited to, coding sequences of structural genes (e.g., reporter genes, selection marker genes, oncogenes, drug resistance genes, growth factors, etc.), and non-coding sequences which do not encode an mRNA or protein product (e.g., promoter sequence, polyadenylation sequence, termination sequence, enhancer sequence, etc.). For example, genes involved in the cis,cis-muconic acid biosynthesis pathway can be genes of interest. It should be noted that non-coding regions are generally untranslated but can be involved in the regulation of transcription and/or translation.

As used herein, the term “genome” refers to the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA (or RNA for certain viral species) including both coding and non-coding sequences. In various embodiments, the term may include the chromosomal DNA of an organism and/or DNA that is contained in an organelle such as, for example, the mitochondria or chloroplasts and/or extrachromosomal plasmid and/or artificial chromosome. A “native gene” or “endogenous gene” refers to a gene that is native to the host cell with its own regulatory sequences whereas an “exogenous gene” or “heterologous gene” refers to any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and/or coding sequences that are not native to the host cell. In some embodiments, a heterologous gene may comprise mutated sequences or part of regulatory and/or coding sequences. In some embodiments, the regulatory sequences may be heterologous or homologous to a gene of interest. A heterologous regulatory sequence does not function in nature to regulate the same gene(s) it is regulating in the transformed host cell. “Coding sequence” refers to a DNA sequence coding for a specific amino acid sequence. As used herein, “regulatory sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5′ non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3′ non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, ribosome binding sites, translation leader sequences, RNA processing site, effector (e.g., activator, repressor) binding sites, stem-loop structures, and so on.

As described herein, a genetic element may be any coding or non-coding nucleic acid sequence. In some embodiments, a genetic element is a nucleic acid that codes for an amino acid, a peptide or a protein. Genetic elements may be operons, genes, gene fragments, promoters, exons, introns, regulatory sequences, or any combination thereof. Genetic elements can be as short as one or a few codons or may be longer including functional components (e.g. encoding proteins) and/or regulatory components. In some embodiments, a genetic element includes an entire open reading frame of a protein, or the entire open reading frame and one or more (or all) regulatory sequences associated therewith. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the genetic elements can be viewed as modular genetic elements or genetic modules. For example, a genetic module can comprise a regulatory sequence or a promoter or a coding sequence or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the genetic element includes at least two different genetic modules and at least two recombination sites. In eukaryotes, the genetic element can comprise at least three modules. For example, a genetic module can be a regulator sequence or a promoter, a coding sequence, and a polyadenlylation tail or any combination thereof. In addition to the promoter and the coding sequences, the nucleic acid sequence may comprises control modules including, but not limited to a leader, a signal sequence and a transcription terminator. The leader sequence is a non-translated region operably linked to the 5′ terminus of the coding nucleic acid sequence. The signal peptide sequence codes for an amino acid sequence linked to the amino terminus of the polypeptide which directs the polypeptide into the cell's secretion pathway.

As generally understood, a codon is a series of three nucleotides (triplets) that encodes a specific amino acid residue in a polypeptide chain or for the termination of translation (stop codons). There are 64 different codons (61 codons encoding for amino acids plus 3 stop codons) but only 20 different translated amino acids. The overabundance in the number of codons allows many amino acids to be encoded by more than one codon. Different organisms (and organelles) often show particular preferences or biases for one of the several codons that encode the same amino acid. The relative frequency of codon usage thus varies depending on the organism and organelle. In some instances, when expressing a heterologous gene in a host organism, it is desirable to modify the gene sequence so as to adapt to the codons used and codon usage frequency in the host. In particular, for reliable expression of heterologous genes it may be preferred to use codons that correlate with the host's tRNA level, especially the tRNA's that remain charged during starvation. In addition, codons having rare cognate tRNA's may affect protein folding and translation rate, and thus, may also be used. Genes designed in accordance with codon usage bias and relative tRNA abundance of the host are often referred to as being “optimized” for codon usage, which has been shown to increase expression level. Optimal codons also help to achieve faster translation rates and high accuracy. In general, codon optimization involves silent mutations that do not result in a change to the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Genetic elements or genetic modules may derive from the genome of natural organisms or from synthetic polynucleotides or from a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the genetic elements modules derive from different organisms. Genetic elements or modules useful for the methods described herein may be obtained from a variety of sources such as, for example, DNA libraries, BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) libraries, de novo chemical synthesis, or excision and modification of a genomic segment. The sequences obtained from such sources may then be modified using standard molecular biology and/or recombinant DNA technology to produce polynucleotide constructs having desired modifications for reintroduction into, or construction of, a large product nucleic acid, including a modified, partially synthetic or fully synthetic genome. Exemplary methods for modification of polynucleotide sequences obtained from a genome or library include, for example, site directed mutagenesis; PCR mutagenesis; inserting, deleting or swapping portions of a sequence using restriction enzymes optionally in combination with ligation; in vitro or in vivo homologous recombination; and site-specific recombination; or various combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the genetic sequences useful in accordance with the methods described herein may be synthetic oligonucleotides or polynucleotides. Synthetic oligonucleotides or polynucleotides may be produced using a variety of methods known in the art.

In some embodiments, genetic elements share less than 99%, less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 80%, less than 70% sequence identity with a native or natural nucleic acid sequences. Identity can each be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. When an equivalent position in the compared sequences is occupied by the same base or amino acid, then the molecules are identical at that position; when the equivalent site occupied by the same or a similar amino acid residue (e.g., similar in steric and/or electronic nature), then the molecules can be referred to as homologous (similar) at that position. Expression as a percentage of homology, similarity, or identity refers to a function of the number of identical or similar amino acids at positions shared by the compared sequences. Expression as a percentage of homology, similarity, or identity refers to a function of the number of identical or similar amino acids at positions shared by the compared sequences. Various alignment algorithms and/or programs may be used, including FASTA, BLAST, or ENTREZ FASTA and BLAST are available as a part of the GCG sequence analysis package (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), and can be used with, e.g., default settings. ENTREZ is available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. In one embodiment, the percent identity of two sequences can be determined by the GCG program with a gap weight of 1, e.g., each amino acid gap is weighted as if it were a single amino acid or nucleotide mismatch between the two sequences. Other techniques for alignment are described [Doolittle, 1996]. Preferably, an alignment program that permits gaps in the sequence is utilized to align the sequences. The Smith-Waterman is one type of algorithm that permits gaps in sequence alignments [Shpaer, 1997]. Also, the GAP program using the Needleman and Wunsch alignment method can be utilized to align sequences. An alternative search strategy uses MPSRCH software, which runs on a MASPAR computer. MPSRCH uses a Smith-Waterman algorithm to score sequences on a massively parallel computer.

As used herein, an “ortholog” is a gene or genes that are related by vertical descent and are responsible for substantially the same or identical functions in different organisms. For example, mouse epoxide hydrolase and human epoxide hydrolase can be considered orthologs for the biological function of hydrolysis of epoxides. Genes are related by vertical descent when, for example, they share sequence similarity of sufficient amount to indicate they are homologous, or related by evolution from a common ancestor. Genes can also be considered orthologs if they share three-dimensional structure but not necessarily sequence similarity, of a sufficient amount to indicate that they have evolved from a common ancestor to the extent that the primary sequence similarity is not identifiable. Genes that are orthologous can encode proteins with sequence similarity of about 25% to 100% amino acid sequence identity. Genes encoding proteins sharing an amino acid similarity less that 25% can also be considered to have arisen by vertical descent if their three-dimensional structure also shows similarities. Members of the serine protease family of enzymes, including tissue plasminogen activator and elastase, are considered to have arisen by vertical descent from a common ancestor. Orthologs include genes or their encoded gene products that through, for example, evolution, have diverged in structure or overall activity. For example, where one species encodes a gene product exhibiting two functions and where such functions have been separated into distinct genes in a second species, the three genes and their corresponding products are considered to be orthologs. For the production of a biochemical product, those skilled in the art would understand that the orthologous gene harboring the metabolic activity to be introduced or disrupted is to be chosen for construction of the non-naturally occurring microorganism. An example of orthologs exhibiting separable activities is where distinct activities have been separated into distinct gene products between two or more species or within a single species. A specific example is the separation of elastase proteolysis and plasminogen proteolysis, two types of serine protease activity, into distinct molecules as plasminogen activator and elastase. A second example is the separation of mycoplasma 5′-3′ exonuclease and Drosophila DNA polymerase III activity. The DNA polymerase from the first species can be considered an ortholog to either or both of the exonuclease or the polymerase from the second species and vice versa.

In contrast, as used herein, “paralogs” are homologs related by, for example, duplication followed by evolutionary divergence and have similar or common, but not identical functions. Paralogs can originate or derive from, for example, the same species or from a different species. For example, microsomal epoxide hydrolase (epoxide hydrolase I) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (epoxide hydrolase II) can be considered paralogs because they represent two distinct enzymes, co-evolved from a common ancestor, that catalyze distinct reactions and have distinct functions in the same species. Paralogs are proteins from the same species with significant sequence similarity to each other suggesting that they are homologous, or related through co-evolution from a common ancestor. Groups of paralogous protein families include HipA homologs, luciferase genes, peptidases, and others.

As used herein, a “nonorthologous gene displacement” is a nonorthologous gene from one species that can substitute for a referenced gene function in a different species. Substitution includes, for example, being able to perform substantially the same or a similar function in the species of origin compared to the referenced function in the different species. Although generally, a nonorthologous gene displacement may be identifiable as structurally related to a known gene encoding the referenced function, less structurally related but functionally similar genes and their corresponding gene products nevertheless still fall within the meaning of the term as it is used herein. Functional similarity requires, for example, at least some structural similarity in the active site or binding region of a nonorthologous gene product compared to a gene encoding the function sought to be substituted. Therefore, a nonorthologous gene includes, for example, a paralog or an unrelated gene.

Orthologs, paralogs and nonorthologous gene displacements can be determined by methods well known to those skilled in the art. For example, inspection of nucleic acid or amino acid sequences for two polypeptides can reveal sequence identity and similarities between the compared sequences. Based on such similarities, one skilled in the art can determine if the similarity is sufficiently high to indicate the proteins are related through evolution from a common ancestor. Algorithms well known to those skilled in the art, such as Align, BLAST, Clustal W and others compare and determine a raw sequence similarity or identity, and also determine the presence or significance of gaps in the sequence which can be assigned a weight or score. Such algorithms also are known in the art and are similarly applicable for determining nucleotide sequence similarity or identity. Parameters for sufficient similarity to determine relatedness are computed based on well known methods for calculating statistical similarity, or the chance of finding a similar match in a random polypeptide, and the significance of the match determined. A computer comparison of two or more sequences can, if desired, also be optimized visually by those skilled in the art. Related gene products or proteins can be expected to have a high similarity, for example, 25% to 100% sequence identity. Proteins that are unrelated can have an identity which is essentially the same as would be expected to occur by chance, if a database of sufficient size is scanned (about 5%). Sequences between 5% and 24% may or may not represent sufficient homology to conclude that the compared sequences are related. Additional statistical analysis to determine the significance of such matches given the size of the data set can be carried out to determine the relevance of these sequences. Exemplary parameters for determining relatedness of two or more sequences using the BLAST algorithm, for example, can be as set forth below. Briefly, amino acid sequence alignments can be performed using BLASTP version 2.0.8 (Jan. 5, 1999) and the following parameters: Matrix: 0 BLOSUM62; gap open: 11; gap extension: 1; x_dropoff: 50; expect: 10.0; wordsize: 3; filter: on. Nucleic acid sequence alignments can be performed using BLASTN version 2.0.6 (Sep. 16, 1998) and the following parameters: Match: 1; mismatch: −2; gap open: 5; gap extension: 2; x_dropoff: 50; expect: 10.0; wordsize: 11; filter: off. Those skilled in the art would know what modifications can be made to the above parameters to either increase or decrease the stringency of the comparison, for example, and determine the relatedness of two or more sequences.

As used herein, the term “homolog” refers to any ortholog, paralog, nonorthologous gene, or similar gene encoding an enzyme catalyzing a similar or substantially similar metabolic reaction, whether from the same or different species.

As used herein, the phrase “homologous recombination” refers to the process in which nucleic acid molecules with similar nucleotide sequences associate and exchange nucleotide strands. A nucleotide sequence of a first nucleic acid molecule that is effective for engaging in homologous recombination at a predefined position of a second nucleic acid molecule can therefore have a nucleotide sequence that facilitates the exchange of nucleotide strands between the first nucleic acid molecule and a defined position of the second nucleic acid molecule. Thus, the first nucleic acid can generally have a nucleotide sequence that is sufficiently complementary to a portion of the second nucleic acid molecule to promote nucleotide base pairing. Homologous recombination requires homologous sequences in the two recombining partner nucleic acids but does not require any specific sequences. Homologous recombination can be used to introduce a heterologous nucleic acid and/or mutations into the host genome. Such systems typically rely on sequence flanking the heterologous nucleic acid to be expressed that has enough homology with a target sequence within the host cell genome that recombination between the vector nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid takes place, causing the delivered nucleic acid to be integrated into the host genome. These systems and the methods necessary to promote homologous recombination are known to those of skill in the art.

It should be appreciated that the nucleic acid sequence of interest or the gene of interest may be derived from the genome of natural organisms. In some embodiments, genes of interest may be excised from the genome of a natural organism or from the host genome, for example E. coli. It has been shown that it is possible to excise large genomic fragments by in vitro enzymatic excision and in vivo excision and amplification. For example, the FLP/FRT site specific recombination system and the Cre/loxP site specific recombination systems have been efficiently used for excision large genomic fragments for the purpose of sequencing [Yoon, 1998]. In some embodiments, excision and amplification techniques can be used to facilitate artificial genome or chromosome assembly. Genomic fragments may be excised from the chromosome of a chemoautotrophic organism and altered before being inserted into the host cell artificial genome or chromosome. In some embodiments, the excised genomic fragments can be assembled with engineered promoters and/or other gene expression elements and inserted into the genome of the host cell.

As used herein, the term “polypeptide” refers to a sequence of contiguous amino acids of any length. The terms “peptide,” “oligopeptide,” “protein” or “enzyme” may be used interchangeably herein with the term “polypeptide”. In certain instances, “enzyme” refers to a protein having catalytic activities. As used herein, the terms “protein of interest,” “POI,” and “desired protein” refer to a polypeptide under study, or whose expression is desired by one practicing the methods disclosed herein. A protein of interest is encoded by its cognate gene of interest (GOI). The identity of a POI can be known or not known. A POI can be a polypeptide encoded by an open reading frame.

A “proteome” is the entire set of proteins expressed by a genome, cell, tissue or organism. More specifically, it is the set of expressed proteins in a given type of cells or an organism at a given time under defined conditions. Transcriptome is the set of all RNA molecules, including mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, and other non-coding RNA produced in one or a population of cells. Metabolome refers to the complete set of small-molecule metabolites (such as metabolic intermediates, hormones and other signaling molecules, and secondary metabolites) to be found within a biological sample, such as a single organism.

The term “fuse,” “fused” or “link” refers to the covalent linkage between two polypeptides in a fusion protein. The polypeptides are typically joined via a peptide bond, either directly to each other or via an amino acid linker. Optionally, the peptides can be joined via non-peptide covalent linkages known to those of skill in the art.

As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the term “transcription” refers to the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template; the term “translation” refers to the synthesis of a polypeptide from an mRNA template. Translation in general is regulated by the sequence and structure of the 5′ untranslated region (5′-UTR) of the mRNA transcript. One regulatory sequence is the ribosome binding site (RB S), which promotes efficient and accurate translation of mRNA. The prokaryotic RBS is the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, a purine-rich sequence of 5′-UTR that is complementary to the UCCU core sequence of the 3′-end of 16S rRNA (located within the 30S small ribosomal subunit). Various Shine-Dalgarno sequences have been found in prokaryotic mRNAs and generally lie about 10 nucleotides upstream from the AUG start codon. Activity of a RBS can be influenced by the length and nucleotide composition of the spacer separating the RBS and the initiator AUG. In eukaryotes, the Kozak sequence A/GCCACCAUGG, which lies within a short 5′ untranslated region, directs translation of mRNA. An mRNA lacking the Kozak consensus sequence may also be translated efficiently in an in vitro systems if it possesses a moderately long 5′-UTR that lacks stable secondary structure. While E. coli ribosome preferentially recognizes the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, eukaryotic ribosomes (such as those found in retic lysate) can efficiently use either the Shine-Dalgarno or the Kozak ribosomal binding sites.

As used herein, the terms “promoter,” “promoter element,” or “promoter sequence” refer to a DNA sequence which when ligated to a nucleotide sequence of interest is capable of controlling the transcription of the nucleotide sequence of interest into mRNA. A promoter is typically, though not necessarily, located 5′ (i.e., upstream) of a nucleotide sequence of interest whose transcription into mRNA it controls, and provides a site for specific binding by RNA polymerase and other transcription factors for initiation of transcription.

One should appreciate that promoters have modular architecture and that the modular architecture may be altered. Bacterial promoters typically include a core promoter element and additional promoter elements. The core promoter refers to the minimal portion of the promoter required to initiate transcription. A core promoter includes a Transcription Start Site, a binding site for RNA polymerases and general transcription factor binding sites. The “transcription start site” refers to the first nucleotide to be transcribed and is designated +1. Nucleotides downstream the start site are numbered +1, +2, etc., and nucleotides upstream the start site are numbered −1, −2, etc. Additional promoter elements are located 5′ (i.e., typically 30-250 bp upstream of the start site) of the core promoter and regulate the frequency of the transcription. The proximal promoter elements and the distal promoter elements constitute specific transcription factor site. In prokaryotes, a core promoter usually includes two consensus sequences, a −10 sequence or a −35 sequence, which are recognized by sigma factors (see, for example, [Hawley, 1983]). The −10 sequence (10 bp upstream from the first transcribed nucleotide) is typically about 6 nucleotides in length and is typically made up of the nucleotides adenosine and thymidine (also known as the Pribnow box). In some embodiments, the nucleotide sequence of the −10 sequence is 5′-TATAAT or may comprise 3 to 6 bases pairs of the consensus sequence. The presence of this box is essential to the start of the transcription. The −35 sequence of a core promoter is typically about 6 nucleotides in length. The nucleotide sequence of the −35 sequence is typically made up of the each of the four nucleosides. The presence of this sequence allows a very high transcription rate. In some embodiments, the nucleotide sequence of the −35 sequence is 5′-TTGACA or may comprise 3 to 6 bases pairs of the consensus sequence. In some embodiments, the −10 and the −35 sequences are spaced by about 17 nucleotides. Eukaryotic promoters are more diverse than prokaryotic promoters and may be located several kilobases upstream of the transcription starting site. Some eukaryotic promoters contain a TATA box (e.g. containing the consensus sequence TATAAA or part thereof), which is located typically within 40 to 120 bases of the transcriptional start site. One or more upstream activation sequences (UAS), which are recognized by specific binding proteins can act as activators of the transcription. Theses UAS sequences are typically found upstream of the transcription initiation site. The distance between the UAS sequences and the TATA box is highly variable and may be up to 1 kb.

As used herein, the term “vector” refers to any genetic element, such as a plasmid, phage, transposon, cosmid, chromosome, artificial chromosome, episome, virus, virion, etc., capable of replication when associated with the proper control elements and which can transfer gene sequences into or between cells. The vector may contain a marker suitable for use in the identification of transformed or transfected cells. For example, markers may provide antibiotic resistant, fluorescent, enzymatic, as well as other traits. As a second example, markers may complement auxotrophic deficiencies or supply critical nutrients not in the culture media. Types of vectors include cloning and expression vectors. As used herein, the term “cloning vector” refers to a plasmid or phage DNA or other DNA sequence which is able to replicate autonomously in a host cell and which is characterized by one or a small number of restriction endonuclease recognition sites and/or sites for site-specific recombination. A foreign DNA fragment may be spliced into the vector at these sites in order to bring about the replication and cloning of the fragment. The term “expression vector” refers to a vector which is capable of expressing of a gene that has been cloned into it. Such expression can occur after transformation into a host cell, or in IVPS systems. The cloned DNA is usually operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences, such as promoters, activator/repressor binding sites, terminators, enhancers and the like. The promoter sequences can be constitutive, inducible and/or repressible.

As used herein, the term “host” refers to any prokaryotic or eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian, insect, yeast, plant, bacterial, archaeal, avian, animal, etc.) cell or organism. The host cell can be a recipient of a replicable expression vector, cloning vector or any heterologous nucleic acid molecule. Host cells may be prokaryotic cells such as M. forum and E. coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, or mammalian cells or cell lines. Cell lines refer to specific cells that can grow indefinitely given the appropriate medium and conditions. Cell lines can be mammalian cell lines, insect cell lines or plant cell lines. Exemplary cell lines can include tumor cell lines and stem cell lines. The heterologous nucleic acid molecule may contain, but is not limited to, a sequence of interest, a transcriptional regulatory sequence (such as a promoter, enhancer, repressor, and the like) and/or an origin of replication. As used herein, the terms “host,” “host cell,” “recombinant host” and “recombinant host cell” may be used interchangeably. For examples of such hosts, see [Sambrook, 2001].

One or more nucleic acid sequences can be targeted for delivery to target prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells via conventional transformation or transfection techniques. As used herein, the terms “transformation” and “transfection” are intended to refer to a variety of art-recognized techniques for introducing an exogenous nucleic acid sequence (e.g., DNA) into a target cell, including calcium phosphate or calcium chloride co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, lipofection, electroporation, optoporation, injection and the like. Suitable transformation or transfection media include, but are not limited to, water, CaCl₂, cationic polymers, lipids, and the like. Suitable materials and methods for transforming or transfecting target cells can be found in [Sambrook, 2001], and other laboratory manuals. In certain instances, oligo concentrations of about 0.1 to about 0.5 micromolar (per oligo) can be used for transformation or transfection.

As used herein, the term “marker” or “reporter” refers to a gene or protein that can be attached to a regulatory sequence of another gene or protein of interest, so that upon expression in a host cell or organism, the reporter can confer certain characteristics that can be relatively easily selected, identified and/or measured. Reporter genes are often used as an indication of whether a certain gene has been introduced into or expressed in the host cell or organism. Examples of commonly used reporters include: antibiotic resistance genes, auxotropic markers, β-galactosidase (encoded by the bacterial gene lacZ), luciferase (from lightning bugs), chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT; from bacteria), GUS (β-glucuronidase; commonly used in plants) and green fluorescent protein (GFP; from jelly fish). Reporters or markers can be selectable or screenable. A selectable marker (e.g., antibiotic resistance gene, auxotropic marker) is a gene confers a trait suitable for artificial selection; typically host cells expressing the selectable marker is protected from a selective agent that is toxic or inhibitory to cell growth. A screenable marker (e.g., gfp, lacZ) generally allows researchers to distinguish between wanted cells (expressing the marker) and unwanted cells (not expressing the marker or expressing at insufficient level).

As used herein, the term “chemotroph” or “chemotrophic organism” refers to organisms that obtain energy from the oxidation of electron donors in their environment. As used herein, the term “chemoautotroph” or “chemoautotrophic organism” refers to organisms that produce complex organic compounds from simple inorganic carbon molecules using oxidation of inorganic compounds as an external source of energy. In contrast, “heterotrophs” or “heterotrophic organisms” refers to organisms that must use organic carbon for growth because they cannot convert inorganic carbon into organic carbon. Instead, heterotrophs obtain energy by breaking down the organic molecules they consume. Organisms that can use a mix of different sources of energy and carbon are mixotrophs or mixotrophic organisms which can alternate, e.g., between autotrophy and heterotrophy, between phototrophy and chemotrophy, between lithotrophy and organotrophy, or a combination thereof, depending on environmental conditions.

As used herein, the term “inorganic energy source”, “electron donor”, “source of reducing power” or “source of reducing equivalents” refers to chemical species, such as formate, formic acid, methane, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfide anion, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, molecular hydrogen, ferrous iron, ammonia, cyanide ion, and/or hydrocyanic acid, with high potential electron(s) that can be donated to another chemical species with a concomitant release of energy (a process by which the electron donor undergoes “oxidation” and the other, recipient chemical species or “electron acceptor” undergoes “reduction”). Inorganic energy sources are generally but not always present external to the cell or biological organism. The term “reducing cofactor” refers to intracellular redox and energy carriers, such as NADH, NADPH, ubiquinol, menaquinol, cytochromes, flavins and/or ferredoxin, that can donate high energy electrons in reduction-oxidation reactions. The terms “reducing cofacor”, “reduced cofactor” and “redox cofactor” can be used interchangeably.

As used herein, the term “inorganic carbon” or “inorganic carbon compound” refers to chemical species, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formate, formic acid, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, cyanide ion and/or hydrocyanic acid, that contains carbon but lacks the carbon-carbon bounds characteristic of organic carbon compounds. Inorganic carbon may be present in a gaseous form, such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, or may be present in a liquid form, such as formate.

As used herein, the term “central metabolite” refers to organic carbon compounds, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, pyruvic acid, 3-hydropropionate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, glycolate, glycolic acid, glyoxylate, glyoxylic acid, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, malate, malic acid, lactate, lactic acid, acetate, acetic acid, citrate and/or citric acid, that can be converted into carbon-based products of interest by a host cell or organism. Central metabolites are generally restricted to those reduced organic compounds from which all or most cell mass components can be derived in a given host cell or organism. In some embodiments, the central metabolite is also the carbon product of interest in which case no additional chemical conversion is necessary.

Reference to a particular chemical species includes not only that species but also water-solvated forms of the species, unless otherwise stated. For example, carbon dioxide includes not only the gaseous form (CO₂) but also water-solvated forms, such as bicarbonate ion.

As used herein, the term “biosynthetic pathway” or “metabolic pathway” refers to a set of anabolic or catabolic biochemical reactions for converting (transmuting) one chemical species into another. Anabolic pathways involve constructing a larger molecule from smaller molecules, a process requiring energy. Catabolic pathways involve breaking down of larger molecules, often releasing energy. As used herein, the term “energy conversion pathway” refers to a metabolic pathway that transfers energy from an inorganic energy source to a reducing cofactor. The term “carbon fixation pathway” refers to a biosynthetic pathway that converts inorganic carbon, such as carbon dioxide, bicarbonate or formate, to reduced organic carbon, such as one or more carbon product precursors. The term “carbon product biosynthetic pathway” refers to a biosynthetic pathway that converts one or more carbon product precursors to one or more carbon based products of interest.

As used herein, the term “engineered chemoautotroph” or “engineered chemoautotrophic organism” refers to organisms that have been genetically engineered to convert inorganic carbon compounds, such as carbon dioxide or formate, to organic carbon compounds using energy derived from inorganic energy sources. The genetic modifications necessary to produce an engineered chemoautotroph comprise the introduction of heterologous energy conversion pathway(s) and/or carbon fixation pathway(s) into the host organism. The host organism can be originally heterotrophic organism. As used herein, an engineered chemoautotroph need not derive its organic carbon compounds solely from inorganic carbon and need not derive its energy solely from inorganic energy sources. The term engineered chemoautotroph may also be used to refer to originally autotrophic or mixotrophic organisms that have been genetically engineered to include one or more energy conversion, carbon fixation and/or carbon product biosynthetic pathways in addition or instead of its endogenous autotrophic capability. The term “engineer,” “engineering” or “engineered,” as used herein, refers to genetic manipulation or modification of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and/or protein, or like technique commonly known in the biotechnology art.

As used herein, the term “carbon based products of interest” refers to include alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, octanol, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, wax esters; hydrocarbons and alkanes such as propane, octane, diesel, Jet Propellant 8, polymers such as terephthalate, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, polyols, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), acrylate, adipic acid, epsilon-caprolactone, isoprene, caprolactam, rubber; commodity chemicals such as lactate, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 3-hydroxypropionate, γ-valerolactone, lysine, serine, aspartate, aspartic acid, sorbitol, ascorbate, ascorbic acid, isopentenol, lanosterol, omega-3 DHA, lycopene, itaconate, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene, propylene, succinate, citrate, citric acid, glutamate, malate, 3-hydroxyprionic acid (HPA), lactic acid, THF, gamma butyrolactone, pyrrolidones, hydroxybutyrate, glutamic acid, levulinic acid, acrylic acid, malonic acid; specialty chemicals such as carotenoids, isoprenoids, itaconic acid; biological sugars such as glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, glycogen, xylose, dextrose, galactose, uronic acid, maltose, polyketides, or glycerol; central metabolites, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, pyruvic acid, 3-hydropropionate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, glycolate, glycolic acid, glyoxylate, glyoxylic acid, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, malate, malic acid, lactate, lactic acid, acetate, acetic acid, citrate and/or citric acid, from which other carbon products can be made; pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates such as 7-aminodesacetoxycephalosporonic acid, cephalosporin, erythromycin, polyketides, statins, paclitaxel, docetaxel, terpenes, peptides, steroids, omega fatty acids and other such suitable products of interest. Such products are useful in the context of biofuels, industrial and specialty chemicals, as intermediates used to make additional products, such as nutritional supplements, neutraceuticals, polymers, paraffin replacements, personal care products and pharmaceuticals.

As used herein, the term “hydrocarbon” referes a chemical compound that consists of the elements carbon, hydrogen and optionally, oxygen. “Surfactants” are substances capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which they are dissolved. They are typically composed of a water-soluble head and a hydrocarbon chain or tail. The water soluble group is hydrophilic and can either be ionic or nonionic, and the hydrocarbon chain is hydrophobic. The term “biofuel” is any fuel that derives from a biological source.

The accession numbers provided throughout this description are derived from the NCBI database (National Ceter for Biotechnology Information) maintained by the National Institute of Health, USA. The accession numbers are provided in the database on Aug. 1, 2011. The Enzyme Classification Numbers (E.C.) provided throughout this description are derived from the KEGG Ligand database, maintained by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics, sponsored in part by the University of Tokyo. The E.C. numbers are provided in the database on Aug. 1, 2011.

Other terms used in the fields of recombinant nucleic acid technology, microbiology, metabolic engineering, and molecular and cell biology as used herein will be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the applicable arts.

Electrolytic/Electrochemical Production of Hydrogen and Formate

Hydrogen gas and formate can be produced via the electrolysis of H₂O and the electrochemical conversion CO₂, respectively [Whipple, 2010]. Each has advantages and disadvantages as inorganic energy sources for the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention.

Hydrogen gas mixtures with air are explosive across a wide range of hydrogen compositions. Hence, use of hydrogen gas as an inorganic energy source and oxygen gas as the terminal electron acceptor of an engineered chemoautotroph must necessarily be set up to cope with the resulting safety risk. To address this challenge, the reactor or fermentation conditions may be kept substantially anaerobic and alternative electron acceptors, such as nitrate, may be used.

Hydrogen is a gas with low water solubility which creates mass transfer limitations when using hydrogen as an inorganic energy source for engineered chemoautotrophs (biological systems are aqueous). At large reactor or fermentor scales, high rates of mass transfer from the gas to liquid phases is challenging (Example 11). There are new technologies being developed to address this issue [U.S. Pat. No. 7,923,227]. Formate, due to its higher solubility in H₂O, does not have this problem (Example 11).

The energy efficiency of electrolysis for production of hydrogen or electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide impacts the overall energy efficiency of a bio-manufacturing process using an engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. Electrolyzers achieve overall energy efficiencies of 56-73% at current densities of 110-300 mA/cm² (alkaline electrolyzers) or 800-1600 mA/cm² (PEM electrolyzers) [Whipple, 2010]. In contrast, electrochemical systems to date have achieved moderate energy efficiencies or high current densities but not at the same time. Hence, additional technology improvements are needed for electrochemical production of formate.

Organisms or Host Cells for Engineering

The host cell or organism, as disclosed herein, may be chosen from eukaryotic or prokaryotic systems, such as bacterial cells (Gram-negative or Gram-positive), archaea, yeast cells (for example, Saccharomyces cereviseae or Pichia pastoris), animal cells and cell lines (such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells), plant cells and cell lines (such as Arabidopsis T87 cells and Tabacco BY-2 cells), and/or insect cells and cell lines. Suitable cells and cell lines can also include those commonly used in laboratories and/or industrial applications. In some embodiments, host cells/organisms can be selected from Escherichia coli, Gluconobacter oxydans, Gluconobacter Achromobacter delmarvae, Achromobacter viscosus, Achromobacter lacticum, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Agrobacterium radiobacter, Alcaligenes faecalis, Arthrobacter citreus, Arthrobacter tumescens, Arthrobacter paraffineus, Arthrobacter hydrocarboglutamicus, Arthrobacter oxydans, Aureobacterium saperdae, Azotobacter indicus, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, divaricatum, Brevibacterium lactofermentum, Brevibacterium flavum, Brevibacterium globosum, Brevibacterium fuscum, Brevibacterium ketoglutamicum, Brevibacterium helcolum, Brevibacterium pusillum, Brevibacterium testaceum, Brevibacterium roseum, Brevibacterium immariophilium, Brevibacterium linens, Brevibacterium protopharmiae, Corynebacterium acetophilum, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium callunae, Corynebacterium acetoacidophilum, Corynebacterium acetoglutamicum, Enterobacter aerogenes, Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia carotovora, Erwinia herbicola, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Flavobacterium peregrinum, Flavobacterium fucatum, Flavobacterium aurantinum, Flavobacterium rhenanum, Flavobacterium sewanense, Flavobacterium breve, Flavobacterium meningosepticum, Mesoplasmaflorum, Micrococcus sp. CCM825, Morganella morganii, Nocardia opaca, Nocardia rugosa, Planococcus eucinatus, Proteus rettgeri, Propionibacterium shermanii, Pseudomonas synxantha, Pseudomonas azotoformans, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas acidovolans, Pseudomonas mucidolens, Pseudomonas testosteroni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Rhodococcus sp. ATCC 15592, Rhodococcus sp. ATCC 19070, Sporosarcina ureae, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio metschnikovii, Vibrio tyrogenes, Actinomadura madurae, Actinomyces violaceochromogenes, Kitasatosporia parulosa, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces flavelus, Streptomyces griseolus, Streptomyces lividans, Streptomyces olivaceus, Streptomyces tanashiensis, Streptomyces virginiae, Streptomyces antibioticus, Streptomyces cacaoi, Streptomyces lavendulae, Streptomyces viridochromogenes, Aeromonas salmonicida, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus thiaminolyticus, Escherichia freundii, Microbacterium ammoniaphilum, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella schottmulleri, Xanthomonas citri, Saccharomyces spp. (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Schizosaccharomyces pombe), Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, CHO cells, 3T3 cells, COS-7 cells, DuCaP cells, HeLa cells, LNCap cells, THP1 cells, 293-T cells, Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells, HKB cells, hybridoma cells, as well as bacteriophage, baculovirus, adenovirus, or any modifications and/or derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, the genetically modified host cell is a Mesoplasma florum, E. coli, yeast, archaea, mammalian cells and cell lines, green plant cells and cell lines, or algae. Non-limiting examples of algae that can be used in this aspect of the invention include: Botryococcus braunii; Neochloris oleoabundans; Scenedesmus dimorphus; Euglena gracilis; Nannochloropsis salina; Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis chui; Isochrysis galbana; Phaeodactylum tricornutum; Pleurochrysis carterae; Prymnesium parvum; Tetraselmis suecica; or Spirulina species. Those skilled in the art would understand that the genetic modifications, including metabolic alterations exemplified herein, are described with reference to a suitable host organism such as E. coli and their corresponding metabolic reactions or a suitable source organism for desired nucleic acids such as genes for a desired metabolic pathway. However, given the complete genome sequencing of a wide variety of organisms and the high level of skill in the area of genomics, those skilled in the art would readily be able to apply the teachings and guidance provided herein to essentially all other host cells and organisms. For example, the E. coli metabolic modifications exemplified herein can readily be applied to other species by incorporating the same or analogous encoding nucleic acid from species other than the referenced species. Such genetic modifications include, for example, genetic alterations of species homologs, in general, and in particular, orthologs, paralogs or nonorthologous gene displacements.

In certain embodiments, the host cell or organism is a microorganism which includes prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial species from the Domains Archaea, Bacteria and Eucarya, the latter including yeast and filamentous fungi, protozoa, algae, or higher Protista. The terms “microbial organisms”, “microbial cells” and “microbes” are used interchangeably with the term microorganism.

In certain embodiments, host microbial organisms can be selected from, and the engineered microbial organisms generated in, for example, bacteria, yeast, fungus or any of a variety of other microorganisms applicable to fermentation processes. Exemplary bacteria include species selected from Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens, Acetobacter aceti, Actinobacillus succinogenes, Mannheimia succiniciproducens, Mesoplasma florum, Rhizobium etli, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Gluconobacter oxydans, Zymomonas mobilis, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Cupriavidus necator (formerly Ralstonia eutropha), Streptomyces coelicolor, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas putida. Exemplary yeasts or fungi include species selected from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Pichia pastoris. E. coli is a particularly useful host organisms since it is a well characterized microbial organism suitable for genetic engineering. Other particularly useful host organisms include yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In various aspects of the invention, the cells are genetically engineered or metabolically evolved, for example, for the purposes of optimized energy conversion and/or carbon fixation. The terms “metabolically evolved” or “metabolic evolution” relates to growth-based selection (metabolic evolution) of host cells that demonstrate improved growth (cell yield). Yet other suitable organisms include synthetic cells or cells produced by synthetic genomes [US Patent Publication Number 2007/0264688] and cell-like systems or synthetic cells [US Patent Publication Number 2007/0269862].

Exemplary genomes and nucleic acids include full and partial genomes of a number of organisms for which genome sequences are publicly available and can be used with the disclosed methods, such as, but not limited to, Aeropyrum pernix; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Anabaena; Anopheles gambiae; Apis mellifera; Aquifex aeolicus; Arabidopsis thaliana; Archaeoglobus fulgidus; Ashbya gossypii; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus halodurans; Bacillus licheniformis; Bacillus subtilis; Bacteroides fagilis; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella quintana; Bdellovibrio bacteriovirus; Bifidobacterium longum; Blochmannia floridanus; Bordetella bronchiseptica; Bordetella parapertussis; Bordetella pertussis; Borrelia burgdorferi; Bradyrhizobium japonicum; Brucella melitensis; Brucella suis; Buchnera aphidicola; Burkholderia mallei; Burkholderia pseudomallei; Caenorhabditis briggsae; Caenorhabditis elegans; Campylobacter jejuni; Candida glabrata; Canis familiaris; Caulobacter crescentus; Chlamydia muridarum; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydophila caviae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Chlorobium tepidum; Chromobacterium violaceum; Ciona intestinalis; Clostridium acetobutylicum; Clostridium perfringens; Clostridium tetania Corynebacterium diphtheriae; Corynebacterium efficiens; Coxiella burnetii; Cryptosporidium hominis; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cyanidioschyzon merolae; Debaryomyces hansenii; Deinococcus radiodurans; Desulfotalea psychrophila; Desulfovibrio vulgaris; Drosophila melanogaster; Encephalitozoon cuniculi; Enterococcus faecalis; Erwinia carotovora; Escherichia coli; Fusobacterium nucleatum; Gallus gallus; Geobacter sulfurreducens; Gloeobacter violaceus; Guillardia theta; Haemophilus ducreyi; Haemophilus influenzae; Halobacterium; Helicobacter hepaticus; Helicobacter pylori; Homo sapiens; Kluyveromyces waltii; Lactobacillus johnsonii; Lactobacillus plantarum; Legionella pneumophila; Leifsonia xyli; Lactococcus lactis; Leptospira interrogans; Listeria innocua; Listeria monocytogenes; Magnaporthe grisea; Mannheimia succiniciproducens; Mesoplasma florum; Mesorhizobium loti; Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum; Methanococcoides burtonii; Methanococcus jannaschii; Methanococcus maripaludis; Methanogenium frigidum; Methanopyrus kandleri; Methanosarcina acetivorans; Methanosarcina mazei; Methylococcus capsulatus; Mus musculus; Mycobacterium Bovis; Mycobacterium leprae; Mycobacterium paratuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycoplasma gallisepticum; Mycoplasma genitalium; Mycoplasma mycoides; Mycoplasma penetrans; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Mycoplasma pulmonis; Mycoplasma mobile; Nanoarchaeum equitans; Neisseria meningitidis; Neurospora crassa; Nitrosomonas europaea; Nocardia farcinica; Oceanobacillus iheyensis; Onions yellows phytoplasma; Oryza sativa; Pan troglodytes; Pasteurella multocida; Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Photorhabdus luminescens; Picrophilus torridus; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium yoelii yoelii; Populus trichocarpa; Porphyromonas gingivalis Prochlorococcus marinus; Propionibacterium acnes; Protochlamydia amoebophila; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas putida; Pseudomonas syringae; Pyrobaculum aerophilum; Pyrococcus abyssi; Pyrococcus furiosus; Pyrococcus horikoshii; Pyrolobus fumarii; Ralstonia solanacearum; Rattus norvegicus; Rhodopirellula baltica; Rhodopseudomonas palustris; Rickettsia conorii; Rickettsia typhi; Rickettsia prowazekii; Rickettsia sibirica; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces bayanus; Saccharomyces boulardii; Saccharopolyspora erythraea; Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Salmonella enterica; Salmonella typhimurium; Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Shewanella oneidensis; Shigella flexneria; Sinorhizobium meliloti; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes; Streptococcus thermophilus; Streptomyces avermitilis; Streptomyces coelicolor; Sulfolobus solfataricus; Sulfolobus tokodaii; Synechococcus; Synechoccous elongates, Synechocystis; Takifugu rubripes; Tetraodon nigroviridis; Thalassiosira pseudonana; Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis; Thermoplasma acidophilum; Thermoplasma volcanium; Thermosynechococcus elongatus; Thermotagoa maritima; Thermus thermophilus; Treponema denticola; Treponemapallidum; Tropheryma whipplei; Ureaplasma urealyticum; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Wigglesworthia glossinidia; Wolbachia pipientis; Wolinella succinogenes; Xanthomonas axonopodis; Xanthomonas campestris; Xylella fastidiosa; Yarrowia lipolytica; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis; and Yersinia pestis nucleic acids.

In certain embodiments, sources of encoding nucleic acids for enzymes for an energy conversion pathway, carbon fixation pathway or carbon product biosynthetic pathway can include, for example, any species where the encoded gene product is capable of catalyzing the referenced reaction. Exemplary species for such sources include, for example, Aeropyrum pernix; Aquifex aeolicus; Aquifex pyrophilus; Candidatus Arcobacter sulfidicus; Candidatus Endoriftia persephone; Candidatus Nitrospira defluvii; Chlorobium limicola; Chlorobium tepidum; Clostridium pasteurianum; Desulfobacter hydrogenophilus; Desulfurobacterium thermolithotrophum; Geobacter metallireducens; Halobacterium sp. NRC-1; Hydrogenimonas thermophila; Hydrogenivirga strain 128-5-R1; Hydrogenobacter thermophilus; Hydrogenobaculum sp. Y04AAS1; Lebetimonas acidiphila Pd55^(T) ; Leptospirillum ferriphilum; Leptospirillum ferrodiazotrophum; Leptospirillum rubarum; Magnetococcus marinus; Magnetospirillum magneticum; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Methylobacterium nodulans; Nautilia lithotrophica; Nautilia profundicola; Nautilia sp. strain AmN; Nitratifractor salsuginis; Nitratiruptor sp. strain SB155-2; Persephonella marina; Rimcaris exoculata episymbiont; Streptomyces avermitilis; Streptomyces coelicolor; Sulfolobus avermitilis; Sulfolobus solfataricus; Sulfolobus tokodaii; Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense; Sulfurihydrogenibium sp. Y03AOP1; Sulfurihydrogenibium yellowstonense; Sulfurihydrogenibium subterraneum; Sulfurimonas autotrophica; Sulfurimonas denitrificans; Sulfurimonas paralvinella; Sulfurovum lithotrophicum; Sulfurovum sp. strain NBC37-1; Thermocrinis ruber; Thermovibrio ammonificans; Thermovibrio ruber; Thioreductor micatisoli; Nostoc sp. PCC 7120; Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans; Allochromatium vinosum; Aphanothece halophytica; Oscillatoria limnetica; Rhodobacter capsulatus; Thiobacillus denitrificans; Cupriavidus necator (formerly Ralstonia eutropha), Methanosarcina barkeri; Methanosarcia mazei; Methanococcus maripaludis; Mycobacterium smegmatis; Burkholderia stabilis; Candida boidinii; Candida methylica; Pseudomonas sp. 101; Methylcoccus capsulatus; Mycobacterium gastri; Cenarchaeum symbiosum; Chloroflexus aurantiacus; Erythrobacter sp. NAP 1; Metallosphaera sedula; gamma proteobacterium NOR51-B; marine gamma proteobacterium HTCC2080; Nitrosopumilus maritimus; Roseiflexus castenholzii; Synechococcus elongatus; and the like, as well as other exemplary species disclosed herein or available as source organisms for corresponding genes. However, with the complete genome sequence publicly available for now more than 4400 species (including viruses), including 1701 microbial genomes and a variety of yeast, fungi, plant, and mammalian genomes, the identification of genes encoding the requisite energy conversion, carbon fixation or carbon product biosynthetic activity for one or more genes in related or distant species, including for example, homologs, orthologs, paralogs and nonorthologous gene displacements of known genes, and the replacement of gene homolog either within an particular engineered chemoautotroph or between different host cells for the engineered chemoautotroph is routine and well known in the art. Accordingly, the metabolic modifications enabling chemoautotrophic growth and production of carbon-based products described herein with reference to a particular organism such as E. coli can be readily applied to other microorganisms, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms alike. Given the teachings and guidance provided herein, those skilled in the art would know that a metabolic modification exemplified in one organism can be applied equally to other organisms.

In some instances, such as when an alternative energy conversion, carbon fixation or carbon product biosynthetic pathway exists in an unrelated species, chemoautotrophic growth and production of carbon-based products can be conferred onto the host species by, for example, exogenous expression of a paralog or paralogs from the unrelated species that catalyzes a similar, yet non-identical metabolic reaction to replace the referenced reaction. Because certain differences among metabolic networks exist between different organisms, those skilled in the art would understand that the actual gene usage between different organisms may differ. However, given the teachings and guidance provided herein, those skilled in the art also would understand that the teachings and methods of the invention can be applied to all microbial organisms using the cognate metabolic modifications to those exemplified herein to construct a microbial organism in a species of interest that would produce carbon-based products of interest from inorganic energy and inorganic carbon.

It should be noted that various engineered strains and/or mutations of the organisms or cell lines discussed herein can also be used.

Methods for Identification and Selection of Candidate Enzymes for a Metabolic Activity of Interest

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for identifying candidate proteins or enzymes of interest capable of performing a desired metabolic activity. Leveraging the exponential growth of gene and genome sequence databases and the availability of commercial gene synthesis at reasonable cost, Bayer and colleagues adopted a synthetic metagenomics approach to bioinformatically search sequence databases for homologous or similar enzymes, computationally optimize their encoding gene sequences for heterologous expression, synthesize the designed gene sequence, clone the synthetic gene into an expression vector and screen the resulting enzyme for a desired function in E. coli or yeast [Bayer, 2009]. However, depending on the metabolic activity or protein of interest, there can be thousands of putative homologs in the publicly available sequence databases. Thus, it can be experimentally challenging or in some cases infeasible to synthesize and screen all possible homologs at reasonable cost and within a reasonable timeframe. To address this challenge, in one aspect, this invention provides an alternate method for identifying and selecting candidate protein sequences for a metabolic activity of interest. The method comprises the following steps. First, for a desired metabolic activity, such as an enzyme-catalyzed step in an energy conversion, carbon fixation or carbon product biosynthetic pathway, one or more enzymes of interest are identified. Typically, the enzyme(s) of interest have been previously experimentally validated to perform the desired activity, for example in the published scientific literature. In some embodiments, one or more of the enzymes of interest has been heterologously expressed and experimentally demonstrated to be functional. Second, a bioinformatic search is performed on protein classification or grouping databases, such as Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs) [Tatusov, 1997; Tatusov, 2003], Entrez Protein Clusters (ProtClustDB) [Klimke, 2009] and/or InterPro [Zdobnov, 2001], to identify protein groupings that contain one or more of the enzyme(s) of interest (or closely related enzymes). If the enzyme(s) of interest contain multiple subunits, then the protein corresponding to a single subunit, for example the catalytic subunit or the largest subunit, is selected as being representative of the enzyme(s) of interest for the purposes of bioinformatic analysis. Third, a systematic, expert-guided search is then performed to identify which database groupings are likely to contain a majority of members whose metabolic activity is the same or similar as the protein(s) of interest. Fourth, the list of NCBI Protein accession numbers corresponding to every members of each selected database grouping is then compiled and the corresponding protein sequences are downloaded from the sequence databases. Protein sequences available from sources other than the public sequence databases may be added to this set. Fifth, optionally, one or more outgroup protein sequences are identified and added to the set. Outgroup proteins are proteins which may share some functional, structural, or sequence similarities to the model enzyme(s) but lack an essential feature of the enzyme(s) of interest or desired metabolic activity. For example, the enzyme flavocytochrome c (E.C. 1.8.2.3) is similar to sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.8.5.4) in that it oxidizes hydrogen sulfide but it reduces cytochrome c instead of ubiquinone and thus offers a useful outgroup during bioinformatic analysis of sulfide-quinone oxidoreductases. Sixth, the complete set of protein sequences are aligned with an sequence alignment program capable of aligning large numbers of sequences, such as MUSCLE [Edgar, 2004a; Edgar, 2004b]. Seventh, a tree is drawn based on the resulting MUSCLE alignment via methods known to those skilled in the art, such as neighbor joining [Saitou, 1987] or UPGMA [Sokal, 1958; Murtagh, 1984]. Eighth, different clades are selected from the tree so that the number of clades equals the desired number of proteins for screening. Finally, one protein from each clade is selected for gene synthesis and functional screening based on the following heuristics

-   -   Preference is given to proteins that have been heterologously         expressed and experimentally demonstrated to have the desired         metabolic activity.     -   Preference is given to proteins that have been biochemically         characterized to have the desired metabolic activity previously.     -   Preference is given to proteins from source organisms for which         there is strong experimental or genomic evidence that the         organism has the desired metabolic activity.     -   Preference is given to proteins in which the key catalytic,         binding and/or other signature residues are conserved with         respect to the protein(s) of interest.     -   Preference is given to protein from source organisms whose         optimal growth temperature is similar to that of the host cell         or organism. For example, if the host cell is a mesophile, then         the source organism is also a mesophile.

Therefore, in constructing the engineered chemoautotroph of the invention, those skilled in the art would understand that by applying the teaching and guidance provided herein, it is possible to replace or augment particular genes within a metabolic pathway, such as an energy conversion pathway, a carbon fixation pathway, and/or a carbon product biosynthetic pathway, with homologs identified using the methods described here, whose gene products catalyze a similar or substantially similar metabolic reaction. Such modifications can be done, for example, to increase flux through a metabolic pathway (for example, flux of energy or carbon), to reduce accumulation of toxic intermediates, to improve the kinetic properties of the pathway, and/or to otherwise optimize the engineered chemoautotroph. Indeed, gene homologs for a particular metabolic activity may be preferable when conferring chemoautrotrophic capability on a different host cell or organism.

Methods for Design of Nucleic Acids Encoding Enzymes for Heterologous Expression

In one aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product for designing a nucleic acid that encodes a protein or enzyme of interest that is codon optimized for the host cell or organism (the target species). The program can reside on a hardware computer readable storage medium and having a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The program comprises the following operations. At each amino acid position of the protein of interest, the codon is selected in which the rank order codon usage frequency of that codon in the target species is the same as the rank order codon usage frequency of the codon that occurs at that position in the source species gene. To select the desired codon at each amino acid position, both the genetic code (the mapping of codons to amino acids [Jukes, 1993]) and codon frequency table (the frequency with which each synonymous codon occurs in a genome or genome [Grantham, 1980]) for both the source and target species are needed. For source species for which a complete genome sequence is available, the usage frequency for each codon may be calculate simply by summing the number of instances of that codon in all annotated coding sequences, dividing by the total number of codons in that genome, and then multiplying by 1000. For source species for which no complete genome is available, the usage frequency can be computed based on any available coding sequences or by using the codon frequency table of a closely related organism. The program then preferably standardizes the start codon to ATG, the stop codon to TAA, and the second and second last codons to one of twenty possible codons (one per amino acid). The program then subjects the codon optimized nucleic acid sequence to a series of checks to improve the likelihood that the sequence can be synthesized via commercial gene synthesis and subsequently manipulated via molecular biology [Sambrook, 2001] and DNA assembly methods [Knight, 2003; Knight, 2007; WO/2010/070295]. These checks comprise identifying if key restriction enzyme recognition sites used in a DNA assembly standard or DNA assembly method are present; if hairpins whose GC content exceeds a threshold percentage, such as 60%, and whose length exceeds a threshold number of base pairs, such as 10, are present; if sequence repeats are present; if any subsequence between 100 and 150 nucleotides in length exceeds a threshold GC content, such as 65%; if G or C homopolymers greater than 5 nucleotides in length are present; and, optionally, if any sequence motifs are present that might give rise to spurious transposon insertion sites, transcriptional or translational initiation or termination, mRNA secondary structure, RNase cleavage, and/or transcription factor binding. If the codon optimized nucleic acid sequence fails any of these checks, the program then iterates through all possible synonymous mutations and designs a new nucleic acid sequence that both passes all checks and minimizes the difference in codon frequencies between the original and new nucleic acid sequence.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described here can be realized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry, specially designed ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Such computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications or code) may include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and may be implemented in any form of programming language, including high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming languages, and/or in assembly/machine languages. A computer program may be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program, or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may be deployed to be executed or interpreted on one computer or on multiple computers at one site, or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

A computer program may, in an embodiment, be stored on a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium stores computer data, which data can include computer program code that is executed and/or interpreted by a computer system or processor. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer readable medium may comprise computer readable storage media, for tangible or fixed storage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, may refer to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals) and may include without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other physical or material medium which can be used to tangibly store the desired information or data or instructions and which can be accessed by a computer or processor.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a generic processing architecture, which may execute software applications and processes. Computer processing device 200 may be coupled to display 202 for graphical output. Processor 204 may be a computer processor capable of executing software. Typical examples of processor 204 are general-purpose computer processors (such as Intel® or AMD® processors), ASICs, microprocessors, any other type of processor, or the like. Processor 204 may be coupled to memory 206, which may be a volatile memory (e.g. RAM) storage medium for storing instructions and/or data while processor 204 executes. Processor 204 may also be coupled to storage device 208, which may be a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard drive, FLASH drive, tape drive, DVDROM, or similar device. Program 210 may be a computer program containing instructions and/or data, and may be stored on storage device 208 and/or in memory 206, for example. In a typical scenario, processor 204 may load some or all of the instructions and/or data of program 210 into memory 206 for execution.

Program 210 may be a computer program capable of performing the processes and functions described above. Program 210 may include various instructions and subroutines, which, when loaded into memory 206 and executed by processor 204 cause processor 204 to perform various operations, some or all of which may effectuate the methods, processes, and/or functions associated with the presently disclosed embodiments.

Although not shown, computer processing device 200 may include various forms of input and output. The I/O may include network adapters, USB adapters, Bluetooth radios, mice, keyboards, touchpads, displays, touch screens, LEDs, vibration devices, speakers, microphones, sensors, or any other input or output device for use with computer processing device 200.

Methods for Expression of Heterologous Enzymes

Composite nucleic acids can be constructed to include one or more energy conversion, carbon fixation and optionally carbon product biosynthetic pathway encoding nucleic acids as exemplified herein. The composite nucleic acids can subsequently be transformed or transfected into a suitable host organism for expression of one or more proteins of interest. Composite nucleic acids can be constructed by operably linking nucleic acids encoding one or more standardized genetic parts with protein(s) of interest encoding nucleic acids that have also been standardized. Standardized genetic parts are nucleic acid sequences that have been refined to conform to one or more defined technical standards, such as an assembly standard [Knight, 2003; Shetty, 2008; Shetty, 2011]. Standardized genetic parts can encode transcriptional initiation elements, transcriptional termination elements, translational initiation elements, translational termination elements, protein affinity tags, protein degradation tags, protein localization tags, selectable markers, replication elements, recombination sites for integration onto the genome, and more. Standardized genetic parts have the advantage that their function can be independently validated and characterized [Kelly, 2009] and then readily combined with other standardized parts to produce functional nucleic acids [Canton, 2008]. By mixing and matching standardized genetic parts encoding different expression control elements with nucleic acids encoding proteins of interest, transforming the resulting nucleic acid into a suitable host cell and functionally screening the resulting engineered cell, the process of both achieving soluble expression of proteins of interest and validating the function of those proteins is made dramatically faster. For example, the set of standardized parts might comprise constitutive promoters of varying strengths [Davis, 2011], ribosome binding sites of varying strengths [Anderson, 2007] and protein degradation of tags of varying strengths [Andersen, 1998].

For exogenous expression in E. coli or other prokaryotic cells, some nucleic acids encoding proteins of interest can be modified to introduce solubility tags onto the protein of interest to ensure soluble expression of the protein of interest. For example, addition of the maltose binding protein to a protein of interest has been shown to enhance soluble expression in E. coli [Sachdev, 1998; Kapust, 1999; Sachdev, 2000]. Either alternatively or in addition, chaperone proteins, such as DnaK, DnaJ, GroES and GroEL may be either co-expressed or overexpressed with the proteins of interest, such as RuBisCO [Greene, 2007], to promote correct folding and assembly [Martinez-Alonso, 2009; Martinez-Alonso, 2010].

For exogenous expression in E. coli or other prokaryotic cells, some nucleic acid sequences in the genes or cDNAs of eukaryotic nucleic acids can encode targeting signals such as an N-terminal mitochondrial or other targeting signal, which can be removed before transformation into prokaryotic host cells, if desired. For example, removal of a mitochondrial leader sequence led to increased expression in E. coli [Hoffmeister, 2005]. For exogenous expression in yeast or other eukaryotic cells, genes can be expressed in the cytosol without the addition of leader sequence, or can be targeted to mitochondrion or other organelles, or targeted for secretion, by the addition of a suitable targeting sequence such as a mitochondrial targeting or secretion signal suitable for the host cells. Thus, it is understood that appropriate modifications to a nucleic acid sequence to remove or include a targeting sequence can be incorporated into an exogenous nucleic acid sequence to impart desirable properties.

Energy Conversion from Inorganic Energy Sources to Reduced Cofactors

In certain aspects, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention comprises one or more energy conversion pathways to convert energy from one or more inorganic energy sources, such as formate, formic acid, carbon monoxide, methane, molecular hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfide anion, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, ferrous iron, and/or ammonia, to one or more reduced cofactors, such as NADH, NADPH, reduced ferredoxins, quinols, reduced flavins, and reduced cytochromes. An energy conversion pathway comprises the following enzymes (only some of which may be exogenous depending on the host organism). Together, the enzymes confer an energy conversion capability on the host cell or organism that the natural organism lacks.

-   -   one or more redox enzymes to oxidize the inorganic energy source         and transfer the electrons to a reducing cofactor     -   optionally, one or more proteins that serve as a reducing         cofactor and/or enzymes that can alter intracellular pools of         reducing cofactors     -   optionally, one or more oxidoreductases or transhydrogenases         that can transfer electrons from high to lower energy redox         cofactors (or between redox cofactors with similar redox         potentials)     -   optionally, one or more transporters or channels to facilitate         uptake of extracellular inorganic energy sources by the         engineered chemoautotroph.

In certain embodiments, the nucleic acids encoding the proteins and enzymes of a energy conversion pathway are introduced into a host cell or organism that does not naturally contain all the energy conversion pathway enzymes. A particularly useful organism for genetically engineering energy conversion pathways is E. coli, which is well characterized in terms of available genetic manipulation tools as well as fermentation conditions. Following the teaching and guidance provided herein for introducing a sufficient number of encoding nucleic acids to generate a particular energy conversion pathway, those skilled in the art would understand that the same engineering design also can be performed with respect to introducing at least the nucleic acids encoding the energy conversion pathway enzymes or proteins absent in the host organism. Therefore, the introduction of one or more encoding nucleic acids into the host organisms of the invention such that the modified organism contains an energy conversion pathway can confer the ability to use inorganic energy to make reducing cofactors, provided the modified organism has a suitable inorganic energy source.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautroph that can utilize formate and/or formic acid as an inorganic energy source. To engineer a host cell for the utilization of formate and/or formic acid as the inorganic energy source, one or more formate dehydrogenases (FDH) can be expressed. In a preferred embodiment, the formate dehydrogenase reduces NADP⁺. Some naturally occuring carbon fixation pathways use NADPH as the redox cofactor rather than NADH, such as the reductive pentose phosphate pathway and several variants of the 3-hydroxypropionate cycle. Accordingly, in certain aspects of the invention, the engineered chemoautotroph expresses a Burkholderia stabilis NADP⁺-dependent formate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.43, ACF35003) or a homolog thereof. The homologs can be selected by any suitable methods known in the art or by the methods described herein. This enzyme has been previously shown to preferentially use NADP⁺ as a cofactor [Hatrongjit, 2010]. SEQ ID NO: 1 represents the E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for the fdh gene of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:1. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. The present invention also provides nucleic acids comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of the wild-type fdh gene. In another embodiment, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of Genbank accession ACF35003, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Alternatively, enzymes that naturally use NAD⁺ can be engineered using established protein engineering techniques to require NADP⁺ instead of NAD⁺[Serov, 2002; Gul-Karaguler, 2001].

In another embodiment, the formate dehydrogenase reduces NAD⁺. For example, formate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.2) can couple the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide with the reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH. Exemplary FDH enzymes include Genbank accession numbers CAA57036, AAC49766 and NP_015033 or homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these three FDHs, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4. The present invention also provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type fdh genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers CAA57036, AAC49766 and NP_015033, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautroph that can utilize formate and/or formic acid as an inorganic energy source and produce reduced, low potential ferredoxin as the reducing cofactor. The reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle carbon fixation pathway is believed to require a low potential ferredoxin for particular carboxylation steps [Brugna-Guiral, 2003, Yoon, 1997; Ikeda, 2005]. The organisms Nautilia sp. strain AmN, Nautilia profundicola, Nautilia lithotrophica 525^(T) and Thermocrinis ruber are reported to grow on formate as the sole electron donor and use the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle as their carbon fixation pathway [Campbell, 2001; Smith, 2008; Campbell, 2009; Miroshnichenko, 2002; Hiigler, 2007], thus implying that each of these organisms have an energy conversion pathway from formate to reduced ferredoxin. To engineer a host cell for the utilization of formate and/or formic acid as the inorganic energy source and production of reduced ferredoxin as the reducing cofactor, in certain embodiments the present invention provides for the expression of formate dehydrogenase capable of reducing low potential ferredoxin in the engineered chemoautotroph. Such an enzyme would facilitate the combination of an energy conversion pathway that utilizes formate with a carbon fixation pathway based on the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle as an embodiment of the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. Exemplary putative ferredoxin-dependent formate dehydrogenases include (with Genbank accession numbers of the FDH subunits listed in parentheses) Nautilia profundicola AmH (YP_002607699, YP_002607700, YP_002607701 and YP_002607702), Sulfurimonas denitrificans DSM 1251 (YP_394410 and YP_394411), Caminibacter mediatlanticus TB-2 (ZP_01871216, ZP_01871217, ZP_01871218 and ZP_01871219) and Methanococcus maripaludis strain S2 (NP_988417 and NP_988418) or homologs thereof. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers YP_002607699, YP_002607700, YP_002607701, YP_002607702, YP_394410, YP_394411, ZP_01871216, ZP_01871217, ZP_01871218, ZP_01871219, NP_988417 and NP_988418, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

A ferredoxin-reducing formate dehydrogenase (FDH) has been previously purified from Clostridium pasteurianum W5 [Liu, 1984]; however, no protein or nucleic acid sequence information is available on the enzyme nor is there a publicly available genome sequence for Clostridium pasteurianum as of Aug. 1, 2011. Based on the sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the Clostridium pasteurianum genome, the sequence of a two putative subunits of a ferredoxin-dependent FDH (FdhF and FdhD) as well as two associated putative ferredoxin domain-containing proteins were identified (Example 7). In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8 which have been codon optimized for the host organism, such as E. coli. Based on the Clostridium pasteurianum putative FDH subunits, additional putative ferredoxin-dependent FDH were identified. Exemplary ferredoxin-dependent FDH include (with Genbank accession numbers of the FDH subunits listed in parentheses) Clostridium beijerincki NCIMB 8052 (YP_001310874 and YP_001310871), Clostridium difficile 630 (YP_001089834 and YP_001089833), Clostridium difficile CD196 (YP_003216147 and YP_003216146), Clostridium difficile R20291 (YP_003219654 and YP_003219653) or homologs thereof. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers YP_001310874, YP_001310871, YP_001089834, YP_001089833, YP_003216147, YP_003216146, YP_003219654 and YP_003219653, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph that can utilize molecular hydrogen as an inorganic energy source. To engineer a host cell for the utilization of molecular hydrogen as an inorganic energy source, one or more hydrogenases can be expressed. For example, [NiFe]-hydrogenases are typically associated with the coupling of hydrogen oxidation to cofactor reduction [Vignais, 2004]. These hydrogenases tend to be composed of at least a large and small subunit and require several accesssory genes for maturation including a peptidase [Vignais, 2004]. Recently, there have been several published examples of heterologous expression of [NiFe]-hydrogenases in E. coli [Sun, 2010; Wells, 2011; Kim, 2011]. Taken together, these results demonstrate that particular maturation proteins, in particular the peptidase that cleaves the C-terminal end of the large subunit, tend to be very specific for their cognate hydrogenase and can not be substituted by homologous hydrogenase maturation factors endogenous to the host cell. Hence, functional heterologous expression of a [NiFe]-hydrogenase requires expression of not only the subunit proteins, such as the large and small subunit, but also one or more of the associated maturation factors, such as the peptidase. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogenase reduces ferredoxin (E.C. 1.12.7.2) and in particular a low potential ferredoxin capable of being used as the reducing cofactor for the carboxylation steps of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle [Yoon, 1997; Ikeda, 2005]. The group 2a [NiFe]-hydrogenases are associated with reducing the ferredoxin needed for the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle [Brugna-Guiral, 2003; Vignais, 2007]. Exemplary hydrogenases include (with Genbank accession numbers of the hydrogenase subunits listed in parentheses) Aquifex aeolicus Hydrogenase 3 (NP_213549 and NP_213548); Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6 Hup2 (YP_003432664 and YP_003432663); Hydrogenobaculum sp. Y04AAS1 HY044AAS1_1400/HY044AAS1_1399 (YP_002122063 and YP_002122062); Magnetococcus marinus Mmc1_2493/Mmc1_2494 (YP_866399 and YP_866400); Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 amb1114/amb1115 (YP_420477 and YP_420478); Methanococcus maripaludis S2 Hydrogenase B (NP_988273 and NP_988742); Methanosarcina barkeri str. fusaro Ech (YP_303717, YP_303716, YP_303715, YP_303714, YP_303713 and YP_303712); Methanosarcina mazei Go1 Ech (NP_634344, NP_634345, NP_634346, NP_634347, NP_634348 and NP_634349); Mycobacterium smegmatis str. MC2 155 Hydrogenase-2 (YP_886615 and YP_886614), Nautilia profundicola AmH NAMH_0573/NAMH_0572 (YP_002606989 and YP_002606988), Nitratiruptor sp. SB155-2 Hup (YP_001356429 and YP_001356428); Persephonella marina EX-H1 PERMA_0914/PERMA_0915 (YP_002730701 and YP_002730702); Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense Az-Fu1 SULAZ_0749/SULAZ_0748 (YP_002728734 and YP_002728733); Sulfurimonas denitrificans DSM 1251 Suden_1437/Suden_1436 (YP_393949 and YP_393948); Sulfurovum sp NBC37-1 Hup (YP_001358971 and YP_001358972); Thermocrinis albus DSM 14484 Thal_1414/Thal_1413 (YP_003474170 and YP_003474169); and homologs thereof. In an alternate embodiment, the hydrogenase reduces NADP⁺ (E.C. 1.12.1.3). The group 3b and 3d [NiFe]-hydrogenases are typically NAD(P)⁺ reducing hydrogenases from bacteria [Vignais, 2007]. Exemplary hydrogenases include (with Genbank accession numbers of the hydrogenase subunits listed in parentheses) Cupriavidus necator SH (NP_942732, NP_942730, NP_942729, NP_942728 and NP_942727) and Synechocystis sp PCC6803 bidirectional hydrogenase (NP_441418, NP_441417, NP_441415, NP_441414 and NP_441411), and homologs thereof. In an alternate embodiment, the hydrogenase reduces NAD⁺ (E.C. 1.12.1.2). Exemplary hydrogenases include (with the Genbank accession numbers of the hydrogenase subunits listed in parentheses) Cupriavidus necator SH without the HoxI subunit (NP_942730, NP_942729, NP_942728 and NP_942727) and homologs thereof [Burgdorf, 2005].

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph that can utilize hydrogen sulfide as an inorganic energy source. To engineer a host cell for the utilization of hydrogen sulfide as the inorganic energy source, one or more sulfide-quinone oxidoreductases (SQR) can be expressed. Sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase couples the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to the reduction of a quinone to the corresponding quinol (E.C. 1.8.5.4). The Rhodobacter capsulatus SQR has been functionally expressed in the heterologous host E. coli [Schütz, 1997] and demonstrated to reduce ubiquinone [Shibata, 2001]. Exemplary SQR enzymes include NP 214500, NP 488552, NP 661023, YP_002426210, YP_003444098, YP_003576957, YP_315983, YP_866354, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these eight SQRs, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15 and SEQ ID NO:16. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type sqr genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers NP_214500, NP 488552, NP 661023, YP_002426210, YP_003444098, YP_003576957, YP_315983, YP_866354, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Alternatively, to engineer a host cell for the utilization of hydrogen sulfide, one or more flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenases can be expressed. Flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase is similar in structure to SQR but couples the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to the reduction of a cytochrome (E.C. 1.8.2.3) [Marcia, 2010].

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph that expresses a protein that can serve as a reducing cofactor, such as preferably ferredoxin or alternatively cytochrome c. In one embodiment, the ferredoxin is a low potential ferredoxin that can donate electrons to the carboxylation steps in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle [Yoon, 1997; Ikeda, 2005]. Exemplary ferredoxins include AAA83524, YP_003433536, YP_003433535, YP_304316, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these four ferredoxins, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20. The present invention also provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type ferredoxin genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers AAA83524, YP_003433536, YP_003433535 and YP_304316, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Two additional exemplary ferredoxins for which no Genbank accession number has been assigned include SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:24. SEQ ID NO:21 and SEQ ID NO:23 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these two unannotated ferredoxins, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:21 and SEQ ID NO:23. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:21 and SEQ ID NO:23. The present invention also provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of these two wild-type ferredoxin genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:24, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph that can transfer energy from one reduced cofactor to another. In one embodiment, a ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase (FNR) is expressed. FNR can catalyze reversible electron transfer between the two-electron carrier NADPH and the one-electron carrier ferredoxin (E.C 1.18.1.2). Exemplary FNR enzymes include the Hydrogenobacter thermophilus Fpr (Genbank accession BAH29712) and homologs thereof [Ikeda, 2009]. In another embodiment, a ferredoxin-NAD⁺ reductase (E.C. 1.18.1.3) and/or a NAD(P)⁺ transhydrogenase (E.C. 1.6.1.1 or E.C. 1.6.1.2) is expressed.

Carbon Fixation of Inorganic Carbon to Central Metabolites

In certain aspects, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention comprises one or more carbon fixation pathways to use energy from one or more reduced cofactors, such as NADH, NADPH, reduced ferredoxins, quinols, reduced flavins, and reduced cytochromes, to convert inorganic carbon, such as carbon dioxide, formate, or formic acid, into central metabolites, such as acetyl-coA, pyruvate, glyoxylate, glycolate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. One or more of the carbon fixation pathways can be derived from naturally occurring carbon fixation pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or reductive pentose phosphate cycle, the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, the Wood-Ljungdhal or reductive acetyl-coA pathway, the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle, 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle and the dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle [Hiigler, 2011]. Alternatively, one or more of the carbon fixation pathways can be derived from synthetic metabolic pathways not found in nature, such as those enumerated by Bar-Even et al. [Bar-Even, 2010]. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acids encoding the proteins and enzymes of a carbon fixation pathway are introduced into a host cell or organism that does not naturally contain all the carbon fixation pathway enzymes. A particularly useful organism for genetically engineering carbon fixation pathways is E. coli, which is well characterized in terms of available genetic manipulation tools as well as fermentation conditions. Following the teaching and guidance provided herein for introducing a sufficient number of encoding nucleic acids to generate a particular carbon fixation pathway, those skilled in the art would understand that the same engineering design also can be performed with respect to introducing at least the nucleic acids encoding the carbon fixation pathway enzymes or proteins absent in the host organism. Therefore, the introduction of one or more encoding nucleic acids into the host organisms of the invention such that the modified organism contains a carbon fixation pathway can confer the ability to use inorganic carbon to make central metabolites, provided the modified organism has a suitable inorganic energy source and energy conversion pathway.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph with a carbon fixation pathway derived from the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle. The rTCA cycle is well known in the art and consists of approximately 11 reactions (FIG. 3) [Evans, 1966; Buchanan, 1990]. For two of the reactions (reaction 1 and 7), there are two known routes between the substrate and product and each route is catalyzed by different enzyme(s). The reactions in the rTCA cycle are catalyzed by the following enzymes: ATP citrate lyase (E.C. 2.3.3.8) [Sintsov, 1980; Kanao, 2002b]; citryl-CoA synthetase (E.C. 6.2.1.18) [Aoshima, 2004a]; citryl-CoA lyase (E.C. 4.1.3.34) [Aoshima, 2004b]; malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37); fumarate dehydratase or fumarase (E.C. 4.2.1.2); fumarate reductase (E.C. 1.3.99.1); succinyl-CoA synthetase (E.C. 6.2.1.5); 2-oxoglutarate synthase or 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.2.7.3) [Gehring, 1972; Yamamoto, 2010]; isocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.41 or E.C. 1.1.1.42) [Kanao, 2002a]; 2-oxoglutarate carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.7) [Aoshima, 2004c; Aoshima, 2006]; oxalosuccinate reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.41) [Aoshima, 2004c; Aoshima, 2006]; aconitate hydratrase (E.C. 4.2.1.3); pyruvate synthase or pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.2.7.1); phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase (E.C. 2.7.9.2); phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.31). In one embodiment, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising one or more exogenous proteins from the rTCA cycle conferring to the organism the ability to produce central metabolites from inorganic carbon, wherein the organism lacks the ability to fix carbon via the rTCA cycle (for example, see FIG. 4). For example, the one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from ATP citrate lyase, citryl-CoA synthetase, citryl-CoA lyase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate dehydratase, fumarate reductase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, 2-oxoglutarate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoglutarate carboxylase, oxalosuccinate reductase, aconitate hydratrase, pyruvate synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the rTCA pathway. For example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise 2-oxoglutarate synthase and ATP citrate lyase. As a second example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise 2-oxoglutarate synthase, ATP citrate lyase and pyruvate synthase. Finally, as a third example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise 2-oxoglutarate synthase, ATP citrate lyase, pyruvate synthase, 2-oxoglutarate carboxylase and oxalosuccinate reductase. In another embodiment, alternate enzymes can be used that result in the same overall carbon fixation pathway. For example, the enzyme malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.39) can substitute for malate dehydrogenase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The enzymes 2-oxoglutarate synthase and pyruvate synthase can be difficult to distinguish from sequence data alone. Both enzymes comprise 1-5 protein subunits depending on the species. Exemplary pyruvate/2-oxoglutarate synthases include NP_213793, NP_213794, and NP_213795; NP 213818, NP_213819 and NP_213820; AAD07654, AAD07655, AAD07656 and AAD07653; ABK44257, ABK44258 and ABK44249; ACD90193 and ACD90192; YP_001942282 and YP_001942281; and homologs thereof. Exemplary 2-oxoglutarate synthases include BAI69550 and BAI69551; YP_003432753, YP_003432754, YP_003432755, YP_003432756 and YP_003432757; YP_393565, YP_393566, YP_393567 and YP_393568; BAF71539, BAF71540, BAF71541 and BAF71538; BAF69954, BAF69955, BAF69956 and BAF69953; AAM71411 and AAM71410; YP_002607621, YP_002607620, YP_002607619 and YP_002607622; CAA12243 and CAD27440; and homologs thereof. Exemplary pyruvate synthases include YP_392614, YP_392615, YP_392612 and YP_392613; YP_001357517, YP_001357518; YP_001357515 and YP_001357515; YP_001357066, YP_001357065, YP_001357068 and YP_001357067; and homologs thereof. ATP citrate lyases comprise 1-4 protein subunits depending on the species. Exemplary ATP citrate lyases include AAC06486; YP_393085 and YP_393084; BAF71501 and BAF71502; BAF69766 and BAF69767; ACX98447; AAM72322 and AAM72321; YP_002607124 and YP_002607125; BAB21376 and BAB21375; and homologs thereof. Exemplary citryl-coA synthetases include BAD 17846 and BAD 17844. Exemplary citryl-coA lyases include BAD 17841.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph with a carbon fixation pathway derived from the 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HPA) bicycle. The 3-HPA bicycle is well known in the art and consists of 19 reactions catalyzed by 13 enzymes (FIG. 5) [Holo, 1989; Strauss, 1993; Eisenreich, 1993; Herter, 2002a; Zarzycki, 2009; Zarzycki, 2011]. The number of reactions in the metabolic pathway exceeds the number of enzymes because particular enzymes, such as malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, and malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/citramalyl-CoA lyase, are multi-functional enzymes that catalyze more than one reaction. Also, in some species, such as Metallosphaera sedula, the same enzyme can carboxylate acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA. The reactions in the 3-HPA bicycle are catalyzed by the following enzymes: acetyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.2) [Menendez, 1999; Hugler, 2003]; malonyl-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.2.1.75 and E.C. 1.1.1.298) [Huigler, 2002; Alber, 2006; Rathnasingh, 2011]; propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-) [Alber, 2002]; propionyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.3) [Menendez, 1999; Hiigler, 2003]; methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (E.C. 5.1.99.1); methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (E.C. 5.4.99.2); succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-) [Friedmann, 2006]; succinate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.3.5.1); fumarate hydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.2); (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase (MMC lyase, E.C. 4.1.3.24 and E.C. 4.1.3.25) [Herter, 2002b; Friedmann, 2007]; mesaconyl-C1-CoAhydratase or β-methylmalyl-CoA dehyratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-) [Zarzycki, 2008]; mesaconyl-CoA C1-C4 CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-) [Zarzycki, 2009]; mesaconyl-C4-CoA hydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-) [Zarcycki, 2009]. In one embodiment, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising one or more exogenous proteins from the 3-HPA bicycle conferring to the organism the ability to produce central metabolites from inorganic carbon, wherein the organism lacks the ability to fix carbon via the 3-HPA bicycle (for example, see FIG. 6). Methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase activity has been reported in E. coli although no corresponding gene or gene product has been identified [Evans, 1993]. For E. coli ScpA to be active, vitamin B 12 must be present in culture medium or produced intracellularly. For example, the one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from acetyl-CoA carboxylase, malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase, (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase, mesaconyl-C1-CoA hydratase, mesaconyl-CoA C1-C4 CoA transferase, and mesaconyl-C4-CoA hydratase. The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the 3-HPA pathway. For example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, and MMC lyase. As a second example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, MMC lyase, and methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase. Finally, as a third example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, MMC lyase, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Exemplary malonyl-coA reductases include ZP_04957196, YP_001433009, ZP_01626393, ZP_01039179 and YP_001636209, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these five malonyl-CoA reductases, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29. The present invention also provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type malonyl-CoA reductase genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers ZP_04957196, YP_001433009, ZP_01626393, ZP_01039179 and YP_001636209, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary propionyl-CoA synthases include AAL47820, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:30 represents the E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this propionyl-CoA synthase of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:30. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:30. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of the wild-type propionyl-CoA synthase gene. In another embodiment, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. The enzyme acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase is composed of three subunits: PccB, AccC and AccB. Exemplary acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylases include those from Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (YP_001191457, YP_001190248, YP_001190249); Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 (YP_00158606, YP_001581607, YP_001581608); Cenarchaeum symbiosum A (YP_876582, YP_876583, YP_876584); Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 (NP_280337 or NP_279647; NP_280339 or NP_280547; NP_280866), and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44 and SEQ ID NO:45 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for each of these acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase subunits, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44 and SEQ ID NO:45. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44 and SEQ ID NO:45. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of Genbank accession numbers YP_001191457, YP_001190248, YP_001190249, YP_00158606, YP_001581607, YP_001581608, YP_876582, YP_876583, YP_876584, NP 280337, NP_279647, NP_280339, NP_280547 and NP_280866, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. The enzyme succinyl-CoA:malate-CoA transferase is composed of two subunits, such as SmtA and SmtB in Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Exemplary succinyl-CoA:malate-CoA transferase subunits include ABF 14399 and ABF 14400, and homologs thereof. Exemplary MMC lyases include YP_0017633817, and homologs thereof.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph with a carbon fixation pathway derived from the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) cycle. The RuMP cycle is well known in the art and consists of 9 reactions (FIG. 7) [Strom, 1974]. Reactions 1 and 2 (FIG. 7) are catalyzed by two separate enzymes in some organisms and by a bifunctional fusion enzyme in other organisms [Yurimoto, 2009]. The reactions in the RuMP cycle are catalyzed by the following enzymes: hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS, E.C. 4.1.2.43) [Kemp, 1972; Kemp, 1974]; 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI, E.C. 5.3.1.27) [Strom, 1974; Ferenci, 1974]; phosphofructokinase (PFK, E.C. 2.7.1.11); fructose bisphosphate aldolase (FBA, E.C. 4.1.2.13); transketolase (TK, E.C. 2.2.1.1); transaldolase (TA, E.C. 2.2.1.2); 7, transketolase (TK, E.C. 2.2.1.1); ribose 5-phosphate isomerase (RPI, E.C. 5.3.1.6); ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (RPE, E.C. 5.1.3.1). In one embodiment, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising one or more exogenous proteins from the RuMP cycle conferring to the organism the ability to produce central metabolites from inorganic carbon, wherein the organism lacks the ability to fix carbon via the RuMP cycle (for example, see FIG. 8). For example, the one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from hexulose-6-phosphate synthase, 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase, hexulose-6-phosphate synthase/6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase fusion enzyme [Orita, 2005; Orita, 2006; Orita, 2007], phosphofructokinase, fructose bisphosphate aldolase, transketolase, transaldolase, transketolase, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, and ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase. The host organism can also express one or more, two or more, three or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the RuMP pathway. For example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise hexulose-6-phosphate synthase and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase. As a second example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise the bifunctional fusion enzyme hexulose-6-phosphate synthase/6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase. Exemplary HPS enzymes include YP_115138, YP_115430 and BAA90546, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:46 and SEQ ID NO:47 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for HPS enzymes YP_115138 and YP_115430, respectively, of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:46 and SEQ ID NO:47. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:46 and SEQ ID NO:47. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type HPS genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of YP_115138 and YP_115430, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary PHI enzymes include YP_115431 and BAA90545, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:48 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for PHI enzyme YP_115431 of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:48. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:48. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type PHI genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of YP_115431, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary HPS-PHI enzymes include NP_143767 and YP_182888, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:49 represents an E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for a fusion of the Mycobacterium gastri MB 19 HPS enzyme (BAA90546) and PHI enzyme (BAA90545) of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:49. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:49. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type HPS and one of the wild-type PHI genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:50, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising a carbon fixation pathway derived from the RuMP cycle, as described above, and in which formaldehyde is produced from formate. The conversion of formate to formyl-coenzyme A (formyl-CoA) can be catalyzed by the enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) operating on a non-cognate substrate [see, e.g., WO 2012/037413]. The conversion of formyl-CoA to formaldehyde can be catalyzed by the enzyme (acylating) acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH), operating on a non-cognate substrate. Exemplary ACS enzymes include AAC77039, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:61 represents recoded coding sequence for ACS enzyme AAC77039 of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:61. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:61. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type ACS genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of AAC77039, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary ADH enzymes include NP_464704, NP_415757, AAD31841, CAA43226, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:62 represents an E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for ADH enzyme AAC77039 of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:62. The nucleic acid sequences can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:62. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type ADH genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of NP_464704, NP_415757, AAD31841 or CAA43226, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph whose carbon fixation pathway is the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle. The Calvin cycle is well known in the art and consists of 13 reactions (FIG. 9) [Bassham, 1954]. The reactions in the RPP cycle are catalyzed by the following enzymes: ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO, E.C. 4.1.1.39); phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK, E.C. 2.7.2.3); glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase (phosphorylating) (GAPDH, E.C. 1.2.1.12 or E.C. 1.2.1.13); triose-phosphate isomerase (TPI, E.C. 5.3.1.1); fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA, E.C. 4.1.2.13); fructose-bisphosphatase (FBPase, E.C. 3.1.3.11); transketolase (TK, E.C. 2.2.1.1); sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate aldolase (SBA, E.C. 4.1.2.-); sedoheptulose bisphosphatase (SBPase, E.C. 3.1.3.37); transketolase (TK, E.C. 2.2.1.1); ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI, E.C. 5.3.1.6); ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (RPE, E.C. 5.1.3.1); phosphoribulokinase (PRK, E.C. 2.7.1.19). In one embodiment, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising one or more exogenous proteins from the RPP cycle conferring to the organism the ability to produce central metabolites from inorganic carbon, wherein the organism lacks the ability to fix carbon via the RPP cycle (for example, see FIG. 10). For example, the one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, phosphoglycerate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase (phosphorylating), triose-phosphate isomerase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, fructose-bisphosphatase, transketolase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate aldolase, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase, transketolase, ribose-5-phosphate isomerase, ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase and phosphoribulokinase. The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the RPP pathway. For example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase and phosphoribulokinase. As a second example, in the host organism E. coli, the exogenous enzymes comprise ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, NADPH-dependent glyceraldehyde-3P dehydrogenase, sedoheptulose bisphosphatase and phosphoribulokinase. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase has two distinct forms: Form I and Form II [Portis, 2007]. Form I is composed of four large subunit dimers and eight small subunits (L₈S₈) and has been expressed previously in heterologous hosts, such as Escherichia coli [Gatenby, 1985; Tabita, 1985; Gutteridge, 1986]. Exemplary RuBisCO subunits include YP_170840 and YP_170839, and homologs thereof. Extensive work has been done to attempt to optimize the function of RuBisCO [Parikh, 2006; Greene, 2007], and thus engineered RuBisCO enzymes may also be used in the present invention. Exemplary NADPH-dependent GAPDH enzymes include YP_400759, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:51 represents an E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this GAPDH of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:51. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:51. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type GAPDH genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of YP_400759, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary SBPase enzymes include YP_399524, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:52 represents an E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this SBPase of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:52. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:52. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type SBPase genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of YP_399524, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto. Exemplary PRK enzymes include YP_399994, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:53 represents an E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this PRK of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:53. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:53. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type PRK genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of YP_399994, or homologs thereof having 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity thereto.

Production of Central Metabolites as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces the central metabolites, including but not limited to citrate, malate, succinate, fumarate, dihydroxyacetone, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, 3-hydroxypropionate, pyruvate, as the carbon-based products of interest. The engineered chemoautotroph produces central metabolites as an intermediate or product of the carbon fixation pathway or as a intermediate or product of host metabolism. In such cases, one or more transporters may be expressed in the engineered chemoautotroph to export the central metabolite from the cell. For example, one or more members of a family of enzymes known as C4-dicarboxylate carriers serve to export succinate from cells into the media [Janausch, 2002; Kim, 2007]. These central metabolites can be converted to other products (FIG. 11).

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph may interconvert between different central metabolites to produce alternate carbon-based products of interest. In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces aspartate by expressing one or more aspartate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1), such as Escherichia coli AspC, to convert oxaloacetate and L-glutamate to L-aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces dihydroxyacetone phosphate by expressing one or more dihydroxyacetone kinases (E.C. 2.7.1.29), such as C. freundii DhaK, to convert dihydroxyacetone and ATP to dihydroxyacetone phosphate.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces serine as the carbon-based product of interest. The metabolic reactions necessary for serine biosynthesis include: phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.95), phosphoserine transaminase (E.C. 2.6.1.52), phosphoserine phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.3). Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, such as E. coli SerA, converts 3-phospho-D-glycerate and NAD⁺ to 3-phosphonooxypyruvate and NADH. Phosphoserine transaminase, such as E. coli SerC, interconverts between 3-phosphonooxypyruvate+L-glutamate and O-phospho-L-serine+2-oxoglutarate. Phosphoserine phosphatase, such as E. coli SerB, converts O-phospho-L-serine to L-serine.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces glutamate as the carbon-based product of interest. The metabolic reactions necessary for glutamate biosynthesis include glutamate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.4.1.4; e.g., E. coli GdhA) which converts α-ketoglutarate, NH₃ and NADPH to glutamate. Glutamate can subsequently be converted to various other carbon-based products of interest, e.g., according to the scheme presented in FIG. 12.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces itaconate as the carbon-based product of interest. The metabolic reactions necessary for itaconate biosynthesis include aconitate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.6; such as that from A. terreus) which converts cis-aconitate to itaconate and CO₂. Itaconate can subsequently be converted to various other carbon-based products of interest, e.g., according to the scheme presented in FIG. 12.

Production of Sugars as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

Industrial production of chemical products from biological organisms is often accomplished using a sugar source, such as glucose or fructose, as the feedstock. Hence, in certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces sugars including glucose and fructose or sugar phosphates including triose phosphates (such as 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone-phosphate) as the carbon-based products of interest. Sugars and sugar phosphates may also be interconverted. For example, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.9; e.g., E. coli Pgi) may interconvert between D-fructose 6-phosphate and D-glucose-6-phosphate. Phosphoglucomutase (E.C. 5.4.2.2; e.g., E. coli Pgm) converts D-α-glucose-6-P to D-α-glucose-1-P. Glucose-1-phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.10; e.g., E. coli Agp) converts D-α-glucose-1-P to D-α-glucose. Aldose 1-epimerase (E.C. 5.1.3.3; e.g., E. coli GalM) D-β-glucose to D-α-glucose. The sugars or sugar phosphates may optionally be exported from the engineered chemoautotroph into the culture medium.

Sugar phosphates may be converted to their corresponding sugars via dephosphorylation that occurs either intra- or extracellularly. For example, phosphatases such as a glucose-6-phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.9) or glucose-1-phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.10) can be introduced into the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. Exemplary phosphatases include Homo sapiens glucose-6-phosphatase G6PC (P35575), Escherichia coli glucose-1-phosphatase Agp (P 19926), E. cloacae glucose-1-phosphatase AgpE (Q6EV19) and Escherichia coli acid phosphatase YihX (POA8Y3).

Sugar phosphates can be exported from the engineered chemoautotroph into the culture media via transporters. Transporters for sugar phosphates generally act as anti-porters with inorganic phosphate. An exemplary triose phosphate transporter includes A. thaliana triose-phosphate transporter APE2 (Genbank accession AT5G46110.4). Exemplary glucose-6-phosphate transporters include E. coli sugar phosphate transporter UhpT (NP_418122.1), A. thaliana glucose-6-phosphate transporter GPT1 (AT5G54800.1), A. thaliana glucose-6-phosphate transporter GPT2, or homologs thereof. Dephosphorylation of glucose-6-phosphate can also be coupled to glucose transport, such as Genbank accession numbers AAA16222, AAD19898, 043826.

Sugars can be diffusively effluxed from the engineered chemoautotroph into the culture media via permeases. Exemplary permeases include H. sapiens glucose transporter GLUT-1, -3, or -7 (P11166, P11169, Q6PXP3), S. cerevisiae hexose transporter HXT-1, -4, or −6 (P32465, P32467, P39003), Z. mobilis glucose uniporter Glf (P21906), Synechocystis sp. 1148 glucose/fructose:H⁺ symporter GlcP (T.C. 2.A.1.1.32; P15729) [Zhang, 1989], Streptomyces lividans major glucose (or 2-deoxyglucose) uptake transporter GlcP (T.C. 2.A. 1.1.35; Q7BEC4) [van Wezel, 2005], Plasmodium falciparum: hexose (glucose and fructose) transporter PfHT1 (T.C. 2.A. 1.1.24; 097467), or homologs thereof. Alternatively, to enable active efflux of sugars from the engineered chemoautotroph, one or more active transporters may be introduced to the cell. Exemplary transporters include mouse glucose transporter GLUT 1 (AAB20846) or homologs thereof.

Preferably, to prevent buildup of other storage polymers from sugars or sugar phosphates, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention are attenuated in their ability to build other storage polymers such as glycogen, starch, sucrose, and cellulose using one or more of the following enzymes: cellulose synthase (UDP forming) (E.C. 2.4.1.12), glycogen synthase e.g. glgA1, glgA2 (E.C. 2.4.1.21), sucrose phosphate synthase (E.C. 2.4.1.14), sucrose phosphorylase (E.C. 3.1.3.24), alpha-1,4-glucan lyase (E.C. 4.2.2.13), glycogen synthase (E.C. 2.4.1.11), 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme (E.C. 2.4.1.18).

The invention also provides engineered chemoautotrophs that produce other sugars such as sucrose, xylose, lactose, maltose, pentose, rhamnose, galactose and arabinose according to the same principles. A pathway for galactose biosynthesis is shown (FIG. 13). The metabolic reactions in the galactose biosynthetic pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: alpha-D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.9; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana PGI1), D-mannose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.1.8; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana DIN9), D-mannose 6-phosphate 1,6-phosphomutase (E.C. 5.4.2.8; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana ATPMM), mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.7.22; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana CYT), GDP-mannose 3,5-epimerase (E.C. 5.1.3.18; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana GME), galactose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.n.n; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana VTC2), L-galactose 1-phosphate phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.n; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana VTC4). In one embodiment, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising one or more exogenous proteins from the galactose biosynthetic pathway.

The invention also provides engineered chemoautotrophs that produce sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, as the carbon-based product of interest. In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph produces D-sorbitol from D-α-glucose and NADPH via the enzyme polyol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.21; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae GRE3).

The invention also provides engineered chemoautotrophs that produce sugar derivatives, such as ascorbate, as the carbon-based product of interest. In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph produces ascorbate from galactose via the enzymes L-galactose dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.122; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana At4G33670) and L-galactonolactone oxidase (E.C. 1.3.3.12; e.g., Saccharomyes cerevisiae ATGLDH). Optionally, a catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6; e.g., E. coli KatE) may be included to convert the waste produce hydrogen peroxide to molecular oxygen.

The fermentation products according to the above aspect of the invention are sugars, which are exported into the media as a result of carbon fixation during chemoautotrophy. The sugars can also be reabsorbed later and fermented, directly separated, or utilized by a co-cultured organism. This approach has several advantages. First, the total amount of sugars the cell can handle is not limited by maximum intracellular concentrations because the end-product is exported to the media. Second, by removing the sugars from the cell, the equilibria of carbon fixation reactions are pushed towards creating more sugar. Third, during chemoautotrophy, there is no need to push carbon flow towards glycolysis. Fourth, the sugars are potentially less toxic than the fermentation products that would be directly produced.

Chemoautotrophic fixation of carbon dioxide may be followed by flux of carbon compounds to the creation and maintenance of biomass and to the storage of retrievable carbon in the form of glycogen, cellulose and/or sucrose. Glycogen is a polymer of glucose composed of linear alpha 1,4-linkages and branched alpha 1,6-linkages. The polymer is insoluble at degree of polymerization (DP) greater than about 60,000 and forms intracellular granules. Glycogen in synthesized in vivo via a pathway originating from glucose 1-phosphate. Its hydrolysis can proceed through phosphorylation to glucose phosphates; via the internal cleavage of polymer to maltodextrins; via the successive exo-cleavage to maltose; or via the concerted hydrolysis of polymer and maltodextrins to maltose and glucose. Hence, an alternative biosynthetic route to glucose and/or maltose is via the hydrolysis of glycogen which can optionally be exported from the cell as described above. There are a number of potential enzyme candidates for glycogen hydrolysis (Table 1).

In addition to the above, another mechanism is described to produce glucose biosynthetically. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides for cloned genes for glycogen hydrolyzing enzymes to hydrolyze glycogen to glucose and/or maltose and transport maltose and glucose from the cell. Preferred enzymes are set forth below in Table 1. Glucose is transported from the engineered chemoautotroph by a glucose/hexose transporter. This alternative allows the cell to accumulate glycogen naturally but adds enzyme activities to continuously return it to maltose or glucose units that can be collected as a carbon-based product.

TABLE 1 Enzymes for hydrolysis of glycogen E.C. Enzyme number Function α-amylase 3.2.1.1 endohydrolysis of 1,4-α-D-glucosidic linkages in polysaccharides β-amylase 3.2.1.2 hydrolysis of 1,4-α-D-glucosidic linkages in polysaccharides so as to remove successive maltose units from the non- reducing ends of the chains γ-amylase 3.2.1.3 hydrolysis of terminal 1,4-linked α-D- glucose residues successively from non- reducing ends of the chains with release of β-D-glucose glucoamylase 3.2.1.3 hydrolysis of terminal 1,4-linked α-D- glucose residues successively from non- reducing ends of the chains with release of β-D-glucose isoamylase 3.2.1.68 hydrolysis of (1->6)-α-D-glucosidic branch linkages in glycogen, amylopectin and their beta-limit dextrins pullulanase 3.2.1.41 hydrolysis of (1->6)-α-D-glucosidic linkages in pullulan [a linear polymer of α-(1->6)-linked maltotriose units] and in amylopectin and glycogen, and the α- and β-limit dextrins of amylopectin and glycogen amylomaltase 2.4.1.25 transfers a segment of a 1,4-α-D-glucan to a new position in an acceptor, which may be glucose or a 1,4-α-D-glucan (part of yeast debranching system) amylo-α-1,6-glu 3.2.1.33 debranching enzyme; hydrolysis of cosidase (1->6)-α-D-glucosidic branch linkages in glycogen phosphorylase limit dextrin phosphorylase 2.7.11.19 2 ATP + phosphorylase b = 2 ADP + kinase phosphorylase a phosphorylase 2.4.1.1 (1,4-α-D-glucosyl)_(n) + phosphate = (1,4-α- D-glucosyl)_(n-1) + α-D-glucose-1-phosphate

Production of Fermentative Products as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol and fatty alcohols as the carbon-based products of interest.

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention is engineered to produce ethanol via pyruvate fermentation. Pyruvate fermentation to ethanol is well know to those in the art and there are several pathways including the pyruvate decarboxylase pathway, the pyruvate synthase pathway and the pyruvate formate-lyase pathway (FIG. 14). The reactions in the pyruvate decarboxylase pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: pyruvate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1 or E.C. 1.1.1.2). The reactions in the pyruvate synthase pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: pyruvate synthase (E.C. 1.2.7.1), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.10 or E.C. 1.2.1.5), and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1 or E.C. 1.1.1.2). The reactions in the pyruvate formate-lyase pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: pyruvate formate-lyase (E.C. 2.3.1.54), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.10 or E.C. 1.2.1.5), and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1 or E.C. 1.1.1.2).

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention is engineered to produce lactate via pyruvate fermentation. Lactate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.28) converts NADH and pyruvate to D-lactate. Exemplary enzymes include E. coli ldhA.

Currently, fermentative products such as ethanol, butanol, lactic acid, formate, acetate produced in biological organisms employ a NADH-dependent processes. However, depending on the energy conversion pathways added to the engineered chemoautotroph, the cell may produce NADPH or reduced ferredoxin as the reducing cofactor. NADPH is used mostly for biosynthetic operations in biological organisms, e.g., cell for growth, division, and for building up chemical stores, such as glycogen, sucrose, and other macromolecules. Using natural or engineered enzymes that utilize NADPH or reduced ferredoxin as a source of reducing power instead of NADH would allow direct use of chemoautotrophic reducing power towards formation of normally fermentative byproducts. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for producing fermentative products such as ethanol by expressing NADP⁺-dependent or ferredoxin-dependent enzymes. NADP⁺-dependent enzymes include alcohol dehydrogenase [NADP⁺] (E.C. 1.1.1.2) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase [NAD(P)⁺] (E.C. 1.2.1.5). Exemplary NADP⁺-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases include Moorella sp. HUC22-1 AdhA (YP_430754) [Inokuma, 2007], and homologs thereof.

In addition to providing exogenous genes or endogenous genes with novel regulation, the optimization of ethanol production in engineered chemoautotrophs preferably requires the elimination or attenuation of certain host enzyme activities. These include, but are not limited to, pyruvate oxidase (E.C. 1.2.2.2), D-lactate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.28), acetate kinase (E.C. 2.7.2.1), phosphate acetyltransferase (E.C. 2.3.1.8), citrate synthase (E.C. 2.3.3.1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.31). The extent to which these manipulations are necessary is determined by the observed byproducts found in the bioreactor or shake-flask. For instance, observation of acetate would suggest deletion of pyruvate oxidase, acetate kinase, and/or phosphotransacetylase enzyme activities. In another example, observation of D-lactate would suggest deletion of D-lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities, whereas observation of succinate, malate, fumarate, oxaloacetate, or citrate would suggest deletion of citrate synthase and/or PEP carboxylase enzyme activities.

Production of Ethylene, Propylene, 1-Butene, 1,3-Butadiene, Acrylic Acid, Etc. as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene and acrylic acid as the carbon-based products of interest. Ethylene and/or propylene may be produced by either (1) the dehydration of ethanol or propanol (E.C. 4.2.1.-), respectively or (2) the decarboxylation of acrylate or crotonate (E.C. 4.1.1.-), respectively. While many dehydratases exist in nature, none has been shown to convert ethanol to ethylene (or propanol to propylene, propionic acid to acrylic acid, etc.) by dehydration. Genes encoding enzymes in the 4.2.1.x or 4.1.1.x group can be identified by searching databases such as GenBank using the methods described above, expressed in any desired host (such as Escherichia coli, for simplicity), and that host can be assayed for the appropriate enzymatic activity. A high-throughput screen is especially useful for screening many genes and variants of genes generated by mutagenesis (i.e., error-prone PCR, synthetic libraries, chemical mutagenesis, etc.).

The ethanol dehydratase gene, after development to a suitable level of activity, can then be expressed in an ethanologenic organism to enable that organism to produce ethylene. For instance, coexpress native or evolved ethanol dehydratase gene into an organism that already produces ethanol, then test a culture by GC analysis of offgas for ethylene production that is significantly higher than without the added gene or via a high-throughput assay adapted from a colorimetric test [Larue, 1973]. It may be desirable to eliminate ethanol-export proteins from the production organism to prevent ethanol from being secreted into the medium and preventing its conversion to ethylene.

Alternatively, acryloyl-CoA can be produced as described above, and acryloyl-CoA hydrolases (E.C. 3.1.2.-), such as the acuN gene from Halomonas sp. HTNK1, can convert acryloyl-CoA into acrylate, which can be thermally decarboxylated to yield ethylene.

Alternatively, genes encoding ethylene-forming enzyme activities (EfE, E.C. 1.14.17.4) from various sources are expressed. Exemplary enzymes include Pseudomonas syringae pv. Phaseolicola (BAA02477), P. syringae pv. Pisi (AAD16443), Ralstonia solanacearum (CAD18680). Optimizing production may require further metabolic engineering (improving production of alpha-ketogluterate, recycling succinate as two examples).

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention is engineered to produce ethylene from methionine. The reactions in the ethylene biosynthesis pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: methionine adenosyltransferase (E.C. 2.5.1.6), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (E.C. 4.4.1.14) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (E.C. 1.14.17.4).

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention is engineered to produce propylene as the carbon-based product of interest. In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph is engineered to express one or more of the following enzymes: propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-), propionyl-CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.1), aldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.3 or E.C. 1.2.1.4), alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1 or E.C. 1.1.1.2), and alcohol dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-). Propionyl-CoA synthase is a multi-functional enzyme that converts 3-hydroxypropionate, ATP and NADPH to propionyl-CoA. Exemplary propionyl-CoA synthases include AAL47820, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:30 represents the E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this propionyl-CoA synthase of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:30. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:30. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of the wild-type propionyl-CoA synthase gene. In another embodiment, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31. Propionyl-CoA transferase converts propionyl-CoA and acetate to acetyl-CoA and propionate. Exemplary enzymes include Ralstonia eutropha pct and homologs thereof. Aldehyde dehydrogenase converts propionate and NADPH to propanal. Alcohol dehydrogenase converts propanal and NADPH to 1-propanol. Alcohol dehydratase converts 1-propanol to propylene.

In another embodiment, E. coli thiolase atoB (E.C. 2.3.1.9) converts 2 acetyl-CoA into acetoacetyl-CoA, and C. acetobutylicum hbd (E.C. 1.1.1.157) converts acetoacetyl-CoA and NADH into 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. E. coli tesB (EC 3.1.2.20) or C. acetobutylicum ptb and buk (E.C. 2.3.1.19 and 2.7.2.7 respectively) convert 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxybutyrate, which can be simultaneously decarboxylated and dehydrated to yield propylene. Optionally, the 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA is polymerized to form poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), a solid compound which can be extracted from the fermentation medium and simultaneously depolymerizied, hydrolyzed, dehydrated, and decarboxyated to yield propylene (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/527,714, 2008).

Production of Fatty Acids, their Intermediates and Derivatives as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces fatty acids, their intermediates and their derivatives as the carbon-based products of interest. The engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention can be modified to increase the production of acyl-ACP or acyl-CoA, to reduce the catabolism of fatty acid derivatives and intermediates, or to reduce feedback inhibition at specific points in the biosynthetic pathway used for fatty acid products. In addition to modifying the genes described herein, additional cellular resources can be diverted to over-produce fatty acids. For example the lactate, succinate and/or acetate pathways can be attenuated and the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway precursors acetyl-CoA and/or malonyl-CoA can be overproduced.

In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention can be engineered to express certain fatty acid synthase activities (FAS), which is a group of peptides that catalyze the initiation and elongation of acyl chains [Marrakchi, 2002a]. The acyl carrier protein (ACP) and the enzymes in the FAS pathway control the length, degree of saturation and branching of the fatty acids produced, which can be attenuated or over-expressed. Such enzymes include accABCD, FabD, FabH, FabG, FabA, FabZ, Fabl, FabK, FabL, FabM, FabB, FabF, and homologs thereof.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention form fatty acid byproducts through ACP-independent pathways, for example, the pathway described recently by [Dellomonaco, 2011] involving reversal of beta oxidation. Enzymes involved in these pathways include such genes as atoB, fadA, fadB, fadD, fadE, fadl, fadK, fad, paaZ, ydiO, yfcY, yfcZ, ydiD, and homologs thereof.

In one aspect, the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway precursors acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA can be overproduced in the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. Several different modifications can be made, either in combination or individually, to the host cell to obtain increased acetyl CoA/malonyl CoA/fatty acid and fatty acid derivative production. To modify acetyl-CoA and/or malonyl-CoA production, the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.2) can be modulated. Exemplary genes include accABCD (AAC73296) or homologs thereof. To increase acetyl CoA production, the expression of several genes may be altered including pdh, panK, aceEF, (encoding the Elp dehydrogenase component and the E2p dihydrolipoamide acyltransferase component of the pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes), fabH/fabD/fabG/acpP/fabF, and in some examples additional nucleic acid encoding fatty-acyl-CoA reductases and aldehyde decarbonylases. Exemplary enzymes include pdh (BAB34380, AAC73227, AAC73226), panK (also known as coaA, AAC76952), aceEF (AAC73227, AAC73226), fabH (AAC74175), fabD (AAC74176), fabG (AAC74177), acpP (AAC74178), fabF (AAC74179).

Genes to be knocked-out or attenuated include fadE, gpsA, ldhA, pflb, adhE, pta, poxB, ackA, and/or ackB. Exemplary enzymes include fadE (AAC73325), gspA (AAC76632), ldhA (AAC74462), pflb (AAC73989), adhE (AAC74323), pta (AAC75357), poxB (AAC73958), ackA (AAC75356), ackB (BAB81430), and homologs thereof.

Additional potential modifications include the following. To achieve fatty acid overproduction, lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3) which produce triacylglyerides from fatty acids and glycerol and in some cases serves as a suppressor of fabA can be included in the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. Exemplary enzymes include Saccharomyces cerevisiae LipA (CAA89087), Saccharomyces cerevisiae TGL2 CAA98876, and homologs thereof. To remove limitations on the pool of acyl-CoA, the D311E mutation in plsB (AAC77011) can be introduced.

To engineer an engineered chemoautotroph for the production of a population of fatty acid derivatives with homogeneous chain length, one or more endogenous genes can be attenuated or functionally deleted and one or more thioesterases can be expressed. Thioesterases (E.C. 3.1.2.14) generate acyl-ACP from fatty acid and ACP. For example, C10 fatty acids can be produced by attenuating endogenous C18 thioesterases (for example, E. coli tesA AAC73596 and P0ADA1, and homologs thereof), which uses C18:1-ACP, and expressing a C10 thioesterase, which uses C10-ACP, thus, resulting in a relatively homogeneous population of fatty acids that have a carbon chain length of 10. In another example, C14 fatty acid derivatives can be produced by attenuating endogenous thioesterases that produce non-C14 fatty acids and expressing the C14 thioesterase, which uses C14-ACP. In yet another example, C12 fatty acid derivatives can be produced by expressing thioesterases that use C12-ACP and attenuating thioesterases that produce non-C12 fatty acids. Exemplary C8:0 to C10:0 thioesterases include Cuphea hookeriana fatB2 (AAC49269) and homologs thereof. Exemplary C12:0 thioesterases include Umbellularia california fatB (Q41635) and homologs thereof. Exemplary C14:0 thioesterases include Cinnamonum camphorum fatB (Q39473). Exemplary C14:0 to C16:0 thioesterases include Cuphea hookeriana fatB3 (AAC49269). Exemplary C16:0 thioesterases include Arabidopsis thaliana fatB (CAA85388), Cuphea hookeriana fatB 1 (Q39513) and homologs thereof. Exemplary C18:1 thioesterases include Arabidopsis thaliana fatA (NP_189147, NP_193041), Arabidopsis thaliana fatB (CAA85388), Bradyrhizobium japonicum fatA (CAC39106), Cuphea hookeriana fatA (AAC72883), Escherichia coli tesA (NP_415027) and homologs thereof. Acetyl CoA, malonyl CoA, and fatty acid overproduction can be verified using methods known in the art, for example by using radioactive precursors, HPLC, and GC-MS subsequent to cell lysis.

In yet another aspect, fatty acids of various lengths can be produced in the engineered chemoautotroph by expressing or overexpressing acyl-CoA synthase peptides (E.C. 2.3.1.86), which catalyzes the conversion of fatty acids to acyl-CoA. Some acyl-CoA synthase peptides, which are non-specific, accept other substrates in addition to fatty acids.

In yet another aspect, branched chain fatty acids, their intermediates and their derivatives can be produced in the engineered chemoautotroph as the carbon-based products of interest. By controlling the expression of endogenous and heterologous enzymes associated with branched chain fatty acid biosynthesis, the production of branched chain fatty acid intermediates including branched chain fatty acids can be enhanced. Branched chain fatty acid production can be achieved through the expression of one or more of the following enzymes [Kaneda, 1991]: branched chain amino acid aminotransferase to produce α-ketoacids from branched chain amino acids such as isoleucine, leucine and valine (E.C. 2.6.1.42), branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes which catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoacids to branched chain acyl-CoA (bkd, E.C. 1.2.4.4) [Denoya, 1995], dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.8.1.4), beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase with branched chain acyl CoA specificity (E.C. 2.3.1.41) [Li, 2005], crotonyl-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.3.1.8, 1.3.1.85 or 1.3.1.86) [Han, 1997], and isobutyryl-CoA mutase (large subunit E.C. 5.4.99.2 and small subunit E.C. 5.4.99.13). Exemplary branched chain amino acid aminotransferases include E. coli ilvE (YP_026247), Lactococcus lactis ilvE (AAF34406), Pseudomonas putida ilvE (NP_745648), Streptomyces coelicolor ilvE (NP_629657), and homologs thereof. Branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes consist of E1α/β (decarboxylase), E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase) and E3 (dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase) subunits. The industrial host E. coli has only the E3 component as a part of its pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (lpd, E.C. 1.8.1.4, NP_414658) and so it requires the E1α/β and E2 bkd proteins. Exemplary α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes include Streptomyces coelicolor bkdA1 (NP_628006) E1α (decarboxylase component), S. coelicolor bkdB2 (NP_628005) E1β (decarboxylase component), S. coelicolor bkdA3 (NP_638004) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); or S. coelicolor bkdA2 (NP_733618) E1α (decarboxylase component), S. coelicolor bkdB2 (NP_628019) E1β (decarboxylase component), S. coelicolor bkdC2 (NP_628018) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); or S. avermitilis bkdA (BAC72074) E1α (decarboxylase component), S. avermitilis bkdB (BAC72075) E1β (decarboxylase component), S. avermitilis bkdC (BAC72076) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); S. avermitilis bkdF (E.C.1.2.4.4, BAC72088) E1α (decarboxylase component), S. avermitilis bkdG (BAC72089) E1β (decarboxylase component), S. avermitilis bkdH (BAC72090) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); B. subtilis bkdAA (NP_390288) E1α (decarboxylase component), B. subtilis bkdAB (NP_390288) E13 (decarboxylase component), B. subtilis bkdB (NP_390288) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); or P. putida bkdA1 (AAA65614) E1α (decarboxylase component), P. putida bkdA2 (AAA65615) E1β (decarboxylase component), P. putida bkdC (AAA65617) E2 (dihydrolipoyl transacylase); and homologs thereof. An exemplary dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase is E. coli lpd (NP_414658) E3 and homologs thereof. Exemplary beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthases with branched chain acyl CoA specificity include Streptomyces coelicolor fabH1 (NP_626634), ACP (NP_626635) and fabF (NP_626636); Streptomyces avermitilis fabH3 (NP_823466), fabC3 (NP_823467), fabF (NP_823468); Bacillus subtilis fabH_A (NP_389015), fabH_B (NP_388898), ACP (NP_389474), fabF (NP_389016); Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SmalDRAFT_0818 (ZP_01643059), SmalDRAFT_0821 (ZP_01643063), SmalDRAFT_0822 (ZP_01643064); Legionella pneumophila fabH (YP_123672), ACP (YP_123675), fabF (YP_123676); and homologs thereof. Exemplary crotonyl-CoA reductases include Streptomyces coelicolor ccr (NP_630556), Streptomyces cinnamonensis ccr (AAD53915), and homologs thereof. Exemplary isobutyryl-CoA mutases include Streptomyces coelicolor icmA & icmB (NP_629554 and NP_630904), Streptomyces cinnamonensis icmA and icmB (AAC08713 and AJ246005), and homologs thereof. Additionally or alternatively, endogenous genes that normally lead to straight chain fatty acids, their intermediates, and derivatives may be attenuated or deleted to eliminate competing pathways. Enzymes that interfere with production of branched chain fatty acids include β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II (E.C. 2.3.1.41) and 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III (E.C. 2.3.1.41) with straight chain acyl CoA specificity. Exemplary enzymes for deletion include E. coli fabF (NP_415613) and fabH (NP_415609).

In yet another aspect, fatty acids, their intermediates and their derivatives with varying degrees of saturation can be produced in the engineered chemoautotroph as the carbon-based products of interest. In one aspect, hosts are engineered to produce unsaturated fatty acids by over-expressing β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (E.C. 2.3.1.41), or by growing the host at low temperatures (for example less than 37° C.). FabB has preference to cis-6³ decenoyl-ACP and results in unsaturated fatty acid production in E. coli. Over-expression of FabB results in the production of a significant percentage of unsaturated fatty acids [de Mendoza, 1983]. These unsaturated fatty acids can then be used as intermediates in hosts that are engineered to produce fatty acids derivatives, such as fatty alcohols, esters, waxes, olefins, alkanes, and the like. Alternatively, the repressor of fatty acid biosynthesis, E. coli FabR (NP_418398), can be deleted, which can also result in increased unsaturated fatty acid production in E. coli [Zhang, 2002]. Further increase in unsaturated fatty acids is achieved by over-expression of heterologous trans-2, cis-3-decenoyl-ACP isomerase and controlled expression of trans-2-enoyl-ACP reductase II [Marrakchi, 2002b], while deleting E. coli FabI (trans-2-enoyl-ACP reductase, E.C. 1.3.1.9, NP_415804) or homologs thereof in the host organism. Exemplary β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I include Escherichia coli fabB (BAA16180) and homologs thereof. Exemplary trans-2, cis-3-decenoyl-ACP isomerase include Streptococcus mutans UA159 FabM (DAA05501) and homologs thereof. Exemplary trans-2-enoyl-ACP reductase II include Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 FabK (NP_357969) and homologs thereof. To increase production of monounsaturated fatty acids, the sfa gene, suppressor of FabA, can be over-expressed [Rock, 1996]. Exemplary proteins include AAN79592 and homologs thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that by attenuating fabA, or over-expressing fabB and expressing specific thioesterases (described above), unsaturated fatty acids, their derivatives, and products having a desired carbon chain length can be produced.

In some examples the fatty acid or intermediate is produced in the cytoplasm of the cell. The cytoplasmic concentration can be increased in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, binding of the fatty acid to coenzyme A to form an acyl-CoA thioester. Additionally, the concentration of acyl-CoAs can be increased by increasing the biosynthesis of CoA in the cell, such as by over-expressing genes associated with pantothenate biosynthesis (panD) or knocking out the genes associated with glutathione biosynthesis (glutathione synthase).

Production of Fatty Alcohols as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In yet further aspects, hosts cells are engineered to convert acyl-CoA to fatty alcohols by expressing or overexpressing a fatty alcohol forming acyl-CoA reductase (FAR, E.C. 1.1.1.*), or an acyl-CoA reductases (E.C. 1.2.1.50) and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1) or a combination of the foregoing to produce fatty alcohols from acyl-CoA. Hereinafter fatty alcohol forming acyl-CoA reductase (FAR, E.C. 1.1.1.*), acyl-CoA reductases (E.C. 1.2.1.50) and alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1) are collectively referred to as fatty alcohol forming peptides. Some fatty alcohol forming peptides are non-specific and catalyze other reactions as well: for example, some acyl-CoA reductase peptides accept other substrates in addition to fatty acids. Exemplary fatty alcohol forming acyl-CoA reductases include Acinetobacter baylyi ADP 1 acr1 (AAC45217), Simmondsia chinensis jjfar (AAD38039), Mus musculus mfar1 (AAH07178), Mus musculus mfar2 (AAH55759), Acinetobacter sp. M1 acrM1, Homo sapiens hfar (AAT42129), and homologs thereof. Fatty alcohols can be used as surfactants.

Many fatty alcohols are derived from the products of fatty acid biosynthesis. Hence, the production of fatty alcohols can be controlled by engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in the engineered chemoautotroph. The chain length, branching and degree of saturation of fatty acids and their intermediates can be altered using the methods described herein, thereby affecting the nature of the resulting fatty alcohols.

As mentioned above, through the combination of expressing genes that support brFA synthesis and alcohol synthesis, branched chain alcohols can be produced. For example, when an alcohol reductase such as Acrl from Acinetobacter baylyi ADP 1 is coexpressed with a bkd operon, E. coli can synthesize isopentanol, isobutanol or 2-methyl butanol. Similarly, when Acrl is coexpressed with ccr/icm genes, E. coli can synthesize isobutanol.

Production of Fatty Esters as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In another aspect, engineered chemoautotrophs produce various lengths of fatty esters (biodiesel and waxes) as the carbon-based products of interest. Fatty esters can be produced from acyl-CoAs and alcohols. The alcohols can be provided in the fermentation media, produced by the engineered chemoautotroph itself or produced by a co-cultured organism.

In some embodiments, one or more alcohol O-acetyltransferases is expressed in the engineered chemoautotroph to produce fatty esters as the carbon-based product of interest. Alcohol O-acetyltransferase (E.C. 2.3.1.84) catalyzes the reaction of acetyl-CoA and an alcohol to produce CoA and an acetic ester. In some embodiments, the alcohol O-acetyltransferase peptides are co-expressed with selected thioesterase peptides, FAS peptides and fatty alcohol forming peptides to allow the carbon chain length, saturation and degree of branching to be controlled. In other embodiments, the bkd operon can be co-expressed to enable branched fatty acid precursors to be produced.

Alcohol O-acetyltransferase peptides catalyze other reactions such that the peptides accept other substrates in addition to fatty alcohols or acetyl-CoA thioester. Other substrates include other alcohols and other acyl-CoA thioesters. Modification of such enzymes and the development of assays for characterizing the activity of a particular alcohol O-acetyltransferase peptides are within the scope of a skilled artisan. Engineered O-acetyltransferases and O-acyltransferases can be created that have new activities and specificities for the donor acyl group or acceptor alcohol moiety.

Alcohol acetyl transferases (AATs, E.C. 2.3.1.84), which are responsible for acyl acetate production in various plants, can be used to produce medium chain length waxes, such as octyl octanoate, decyl octanoate, decyl decanoate, and the like. Fatty esters, synthesized from medium chain alcohol (such as C6, C8) and medium chain acyl-CoA (or fatty acids, such as C6 or C8) have a relative low melting point. For example, hexyl hexanoate has a melting point of −55° C. and octyl octanoate has a melting point of −18 to −17° C. The low melting points of these compounds make them good candidates for use as biofuels. Exemplary alcohol acetyltransferases include Fragaria x ananassa SAAT (AAG13130) [Aharoni, 2000], Saccharomyces cerevisiae Atfp1 (NP_015022), and homologs thereof.

In some embodiments, one or more wax synthases (E.C. 2.3.1.75) is expressed in the engineered chemoautotroph to produce fatty esters including waxes from acyl-CoA and alcohols as the carbon-based product of interest. Wax synthase peptides are capable of catalyzing the conversion of an acyl-thioester to fatty esters. Some wax synthase peptides can catalyze other reactions, such as converting short chain acyl-CoAs and short chain alcohols to produce fatty esters. Methods to identify wax synthase activity are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,896, which is herein incorporated by reference. Medium-chain waxes that have low melting points, such as octyl octanoate and octyl decanoate, are good candidates for biofuel to replace triglyceride-based biodiesel. Exemplary wax synthases include Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 wsadp1, Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 wax-dgaT (AAO17391) [Kalscheuer, 2003], Saccharomyces cerevisiae Eeb1 (NP_015230), Saccharomyces cerevisiae YMR210w (NP_013937), Simmondsia chinensis acyltransferase (AAD38041), Mus musculus Dgat214 (Q6E1M8), and homologs thereof.

In other aspects, the engineered chemoautotrophs are modified to produce a fatty ester-based biofuel by expressing nucleic acids encoding one or more wax ester synthases in order to confer the ability to synthesize a saturated, unsaturated, or branched fatty ester. In some embodiments, the wax ester synthesis proteins include, but are not limited to: fatty acid elongases, acyl-CoA reductases, acyltransferases or wax synthases, fatty acyl transferases, diacylglycerol acyltransferases, acyl-coA wax alcohol acyltransferases, bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase selected from a multienzyme complex from Simmondsia chinensis, Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 (formerly Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ADP 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Fundibacter jadensis, Arabidopsis thaliana, or Alkaligenes eutrophus. In one embodiment, the fatty acid elongases, acyl-CoA reductases or wax synthases are from a multienzyme complex from Alkaligenes eutrophus and other organisms known in the literature to produce wax and fatty acid esters.

Many fatty esters are derived from the intermediates and products of fatty acid biosynthesis. Hence, the production of fatty esters can be controlled by engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in the engineered chemoautotroph. The chain length, branching and degree of saturation of fatty acids and their intermediates can be altered using the methods described herein, thereby affecting the nature of the resulting fatty esters.

Additionally, to increase the percentage of unsaturated fatty acid esters, the engineered chemoautotroph can also overexpress Sfa which encodes a suppressor of fabA (AAN79592, AAC44390), β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I (E.C. 2.3.1.41, BAA16180), and secG null mutant suppressors (cold shock proteins) gnsA and gnsB (ABD18647 and AAC74076). In some examples, the endogenous fabF gene can be attenuated, thus, increasing the percentage of palmitoleate (C16:1) produced.

Optionally a wax ester exporter such as a member of the FATP family is used to facilitate the release of waxes or esters into the extracellular environment from the engineered chemoautotroph. An exemplary wax ester exporter that can be used is fatty acid (long chain) transport protein CG7400-PA, isoform A from D. melanogaster (NP_524723), or homologs thereof.

The centane number (CN), viscosity, melting point, and heat of combustion for various fatty acid esters have been characterized in for example, [Knothe, 2005]. Using the teachings provided herein the engineered chemoautotroph can be engineered to produce any one of the fatty acid esters described in [Knothe, 2005].

Production of Alkanes as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In another aspect, engineered chemoautotrophs produce alkanes of various chain lengths (hydrocarbons) as the carbon-based products of interest. Many alkanes are derived from the products of fatty acid biosynthesis. Hence, the production of alkanes can be controlled by engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in the engineered chemoautotroph. The chain length, branching and degree of saturation of fatty acids and their intermediates can be altered using the methods described herein. The chain length, branching and degree of saturation of alkanes can be controlled through their fatty acid biosynthesis precursors.

In certain aspects, fatty aldehydes can be converted to alkanes and CO in the engineered chemoautotroph via the expression of decarbonylases [Cheesbrough, 1984; Dennis, 1991]. Exemplary enzymes include Arabidopsis thaliana cer1 (NP_171723), Oryza sativacer1 CER1 (AAD29719) and homologs thereof.

In another aspect, fatty alcohols can be converted to alkanes in the engineered chemoautotroph via the expression of terminal alcohol oxidoreductases as in Vibrio furnissii M1 [Park, 2005].

Production of Olefins as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In another aspect, engineered chemoautotrophs produce olefins (hydrocarbons) as the carbon-based products of interest. Olefins are derived from the intermediates and products of fatty acid biosynthesis. Hence, the production of olefins can be controlled by engineering fatty acid biosynthesis in the engineered chemoautotroph. Introduction of genes affecting the production of unsaturated fatty acids, as described above, can result in the production of olefins. Similarly, the chain length of olefins can be controlled by expressing, overexpressing or attenuating the expression of endogenous and heterologous thioesterases which control the chain length of the fatty acids that are precursors to olefin biosynthesis. Also, by controlling the expression of endogenous and heterologous enzymes associated with branched chain fatty acid biosynthesis, the production of branched chain olefins can be enhanced. Methods for controlling the chain length and branching of fatty acid biosynthesis intermediates and products are described above.

Production of ω-Cyclic Fatty Acids and their Derivatives as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In another aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces co-cyclic fatty acids (cyFAs) as the carbon-based product of interest. To synthesize co-cyclic fatty acids (cyFAs), several genes need to be introduced and expressed that provide the cyclic precursor cyclohexylcarbonyl-CoA [Cropp, 2000]. The genes (fabH, ACP and fabF) can then be expressed to allow initiation and elongation of ω-cyclic fatty acids. Alternatively, the homologous genes can be isolated from microorganisms that make cyFAs and expressed in E. coli. Relevant genes include bkdC, lpd, fabH, ACP, fabF, fabH1, ACP, fabF, fabH3, fabC3, fabF, fabH_A, fabH_B, ACP.

Expression of the following genes are sufficient to provide cyclohexylcarbonyl-CoA in E. coli: ansJ, ansK, ansL, chcA (1-cyclohexenylcarbonyl CoA reductase) and ansM from the ansatrienin gene cluster of Streptomyces collinus [Chen, 1999] or plmJK (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase), plmL (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase), chcA (enoyl-(ACP) reductase) and plmM (2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase) from the phoslactomycin B gene cluster of Streptomyces sp. HK803 [Palaniappan, 2003] together with the acyl-CoA isomerase (chcB gene) [Patton, 2000] from S. collinus, S. avermitilis or S. coelicolor. Exemplary ansatrienin gene cluster enzymes include AAC44655, AAF73478 and homologs thereof. Exemplary phoslactomycin B gene cluster enzymes include AAQ84158, AAQ84159, AAQ84160, AAQ84161 and homologs thereof. Exemplary chcB enzymes include NP_629292, AAF73478 and homologs thereof.

The genes (fabH, ACP and fabF) are sufficient to allow initiation and elongation of co-cyclic fatty acids, because they can have broad substrate specificity. In the event that coexpression of any of these genes with the ansJKLM/chcAB or pmlJKLM/chcAB genes does not yield cyFAs, fabH, ACP and/or fabF homologs from microorganisms that make cyFAs can be isolated (e.g., by using degenerate PCR primers or heterologous DNA probes) and coexpressed.

Production of Halogenated Derivatives of Fatty Acids

Genes are known that can produce fluoroacetyl-CoA from fluoride ion. In one embodiment, the present invention allows for production of fluorinated fatty acids by combining expression of fluoroacetate-involved genes (e.g., fluorinase, nucleotide phosphorylase, fluorometabolite-specific aldolases, fluoroacetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and fluoroacetyl-CoA synthase).

Transport/Efflux/Release of Fatty Acids and their Derivatives

Also disclosed herein is a system for continuously producing and exporting hydrocarbons out of recombinant host microorganisms via a transport protein. Many transport and efflux proteins serve to excrete a large variety of compounds and can be evolved to be selective for a particular type of fatty acid. Thus, in some embodiments an ABC transporter can be functionally expressed by the engineered chemoautotroph, so that the organism exports the fatty acid into the culture medium. In one example, the ABC transporter is an ABC transporter from Caenorhabditis elegans, Arabidopsis thalania, Alkaligenes eutrophus or Rhodococcus erythropolis or homologs thereof. Exemplary transporters include AAU44368, NP_188746, NP_175557, AAN73268 or homologs thereof.

The transport protein, for example, can also be an efflux protein selected from: AcrAB (NP_414996.1, NP_414995.1), ToIC (NP_417507.2) and AcrEF (NP_417731.1, NP_417732.1) from E. coli, or t111618 (NP_682408), t111619 (NP_682409), t110139 (NP_680930), H11619 and U10139 from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-I or homologs thereof.

In addition, the transport protein can be, for example, a fatty acid transport protein (FATP) selected from Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Acinetobacter sp. H01-N, any one of the mammalian FATPs or homologs thereof. The FATPs can additionally be resynthesized with the membranous regions reversed in order to invert the direction of substrate flow. Specifically, the sequences of amino acids composing the hydrophilic domains (or membrane domains) of the protein can be inverted while maintaining the same codons for each particular amino acid. The identification of these regions is well known in the art.

Production of Isoprenoids as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In one aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces isoprenoids or their precursors isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and its isomer, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) as the carbon-based products of interest. There are two known biosynthetic pathways that synthesize IPP and DMAPP. Prokaryotes, with some exceptions, use the mevalonate-independent or deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) pathway to produce IPP and DMAPP separately through a branch point (FIG. 15). Eukaryotes other than plants use the mevalonate-dependent (MEV) isoprenoid pathway exclusively to convert acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) to IPP, which is subsequently isomerized to DMAPP (FIG. 16). In general, plants use both the MEV and DXP pathways for IPP synthesis.

The reactions in the DXP pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (E.C. 2.2.1.7), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (E.C. 1.1.1.267), 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase (E.C. 2.7.7.60), 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.148), 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (E.C. 4.6.1.12), (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 1.17.7.1), isopentyl/dimethylallyl diphosphate synthase or 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (E.C. 1.17.1.2). In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention expresses one or more enzymes from the DXP pathway. For example, one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate synthase, and 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase. The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the DXP pathway. Exemplary 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthases include E. coli Dxs (AAC46162); P. putida KT2440 Dxs (AAN66154); Salmonella enterica Paratyphi, see ATCC 9150 Dxs (AAV78186); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 Dxs (YP_353327); Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 Dxs (NP_946305); Xylella fastidiosa Temecula1 Dxs (NP_779493); Arabidopsis thaliana Dxs (NP_001078570 and/or NP_196699); and homologs thereof. Exemplary 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerases include E. coli Dxr (BAA32426); Arabidopsis thaliana DXR (AAF73140); Pseudomonas putida KT2440 Dxr (NP_743754 and/or Q88MH4); Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) Dxr (NP_629822); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 Dxr (YP_352764); Pseudomonas fluorescens PfO-1 Dxr (YP_346389); and homologs thereof. Exemplary 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol synthases include E. coli IspD (AAF43207); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 IspD (YP_352876); Arabidopsis thaliana ISPD (NP_565286); P. putida KT2440 IspD (NP_743771); and homologs thereof. Exemplary 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol kinases include E. coli IspE (AAF29530); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 IspE (YP_351828); and homologs thereof. Exemplary 2C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthases include E. coli IspF (AAF44656); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 IspF (YP_352877); P. putida KT2440 IspF (NP_743775); and homologs thereof. Exemplary (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate synthase include E. coli IspG (AAK53460); P. putida KT2440 IspG (NP_743014); Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 IspG (YP_353044); and homologs thereof. Exemplary 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductases include E. coli IspH (AAL38655); P. putida KT2440 IspH (NP_742768); and homologs thereof.

The reactions in the MEV pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: acetyl-CoA thiolase, HMG-CoA synthase (E.C. 2.3.3.10), HMG-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.34), mevalonate kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.36), phosphomevalonate kinase (E.C. 2.7.4.2), mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.33), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (E.C. 5.3.3.2). In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention expresses one or more enzymes from the MEV pathway. For example, one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from acetyl-CoA thiolase, HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase and isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase. The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer the MEV pathway. Exemplary acetyl-CoA thiolases include NC_000913 REGION: 232413 L. 2325315, E. coli; D49362, Paracoccus denitrificans; L20428, S. cerevisiae; and homologs thereof. Exemplary HMG-CoA synthases include NC_001145 complement 19061 . . . 20536, S. cerevisiae; X96617, S. cerevisiae; X83882, A. thaliana; AB037907, Kitasatospora griseola; BT007302, H. sapiens; NC_002758, Locus tag SAV2546, GeneID 1 122571, S. aureus; and homologs thereof. Exemplary HMG-CoA reductases include NM_206548, D. melanogaster; NC_002758, Locus tag SAV2545, GeneID 1122570, S. aureus; NM_204485, Gallus gallus; AB015627, Streptomyces sp. KO 3988; AF542543, Nicotiana attenuata; AB037907, Kitasatospora griseola; AX128213, providing the sequence encoding a truncated HMGR, S. cerevisiae; NC_001145: complement 115734 . . . 1 18898, S. cerevisiae; and homologs thereof. Exemplary mevalonate kinases include L77688, A. thaliana; X55875, S. cerevisiae; and homologs thereof. Exemplary phosphomevalonate kinases include AF429385, Hevea brasiliensis; NM_006556, H. sapiens; NC_001145 complement 712315 . . . 713670, S. cerevisiae; and homologs thereof. Exemplary mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase include include X97557, S. cerevisiae; AF290095, E. faecium; U49260, H. sapiens; and homologs thereof. Exemplary isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerases include NC_000913, 3031087 . . . 3031635, E. coli; AF082326, Haematococcus pluvialis; and homologs thereof.

In some embodiments, the host cell produces IPP via the MEV pathway, either exclusively or in combination with the DXP pathway. In other embodiments, a host cell's DXP pathway is functionally disabled so that the host cell produces IPP exclusively through a heterologously introduced MEV pathway. The DXP pathway can be functionally disabled by disabling gene expression or inactivating the function of one or more of the DXP pathway enzymes.

In some embodiments, the host cell produces IPP via the DXP pathway, either exclusively or in combination with the MEV pathway. In other embodiments, a host cell's MEV pathway is functionally disabled so that the host cell produces IPP exclusively through a heterologously introduced DXP pathway. The MEV pathway can be functionally disabled by disabling gene expression or inactivating the function of one or more of the MEV pathway enzymes.

Provided herein is a method to produce isoprenoids in engineered chemoautotrophs engineered with the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes. Some examples of isoprenoids include: hemiterpenes (derived from 1 isoprene unit) such as isoprene; monoterpenes (derived from 2 isoprene units) such as myrcene or limonene; sesquiterpenes (derived from 3 isoprene units) such as amorpha-4,11-diene, bisabolene or farnesene; diterpenes (derived from four isoprene units) such as taxadiene; sesterterpenes (derived from 5 isoprene units); triterpenes (derived from 6 isoprene units) such as squalene; sesquarterpenes (derived from 7 isoprene units); tetraterpenes (derived from 8 isoprene units) such as β-carotene or lycopene; and polyterpenes (derived from more than 8 isoprene units) such as polyisoprene. The production of isoprenoids is also described in some detail in the published PCT applications WO2007/139925 and WO/2007/140339.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces rubber as the carbon-based product of interest via the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes and cis-polyprenylcistransferase (E.C. 2.5.1.20) which converts isopentenyl pyrophosphate to rubber. The enzyme cis-polyprenylcistransferase may come from, for example, Hevea brasiliensis.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produce isopentanol as the carbon-based product of interest via the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes and isopentanol dikinase.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces squalene as the carbon-based product of interest via the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes, geranyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.1), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.10) and squalene synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.21). Geranyl diphosphate synthase converts dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate to geranyl diphosphate. Farnesyl diphosphate synthase converts geranyl diphosphate and isopentenyl diphosphate to farnesyl diphosphate. A bifunctional enzyme carries out the conversion of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and two isopentenyl pyrophosphate to farnesyl pyrophosphate. Exemplary enzymes include Escherichia coli IspA (NP_414955) and homologs thereof. Squalene synthase converts two farnesyl pyrophosphate and NADPH to squalene. In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph produces lanosterol as the carbon-based product of interest via the above enzymes, squalene monooxygenase (E.C. 1.14.99.7) and lanosterol synthase (E.C. 5.4.99.7). Squalene monooxygenase converts squalene, NADPH and O₂ to (S)-squalene-2,3-epoxide. Exemplary enzymes include Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ergl (NP_011691) and homologs thereof. Lanosterol synthase converts (S)-squalene-2,3-epoxide to lanosterol. Exemplary enzymes include Saccharomyces cerevisiae Erg7 (NP_011939) and homologs thereof.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces lycopene as the carbon-based product of interest via the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes, geranyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.21, described above), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.10, described above), geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.29), phytoene synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.32), phytoene oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.14.99.n) and ζ-carotene oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.14.99.30). Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase converts isopentenyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate to (all trans)-geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Exemplary geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthases include Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 crtE (NP_440010) and homologs thereof. Phytoene synthase converts 2 geranylgeranyl-PP to phytoene. Exemplary enzymes include Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 crtB (P37294). Phytoene oxidoreductase converts phytoene, 2 NADPH and 2 O₂ to ζ-carotene. Exemplary enzymes include Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 crtI and Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 crtI (P21134). ζ-carotene oxidoreductase converts ζ-carotene, 2 NADPH and 2 O₂ to lycopene. Exemplary enzymes include Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 crtQ-2 (NP_441720).

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces limonene as the carbon-based product of interest via the isopentenyl pyrophosphate pathway enzymes, geranyl diphosphate synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.21, described above) and one of (R)-limonene synthase (E.C. 4.2.3.20) and (4S)-limonene synthase (E.C. 4.2.3.16) which convert geranyl diphosphate to a limonene enantiomer. Exemplary (R)-limonene synthases include that from Citrus limon (AAM53946) and homologs thereof. Exemplary (4S)-limonene synthases include that from Mentha spicata (AAC37366) and homologs thereof.

Production of Glycerol or 1,3-Propanediol as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In one aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces glycerol or 1,3-propanediol as the carbon-based products of interest (FIG. 17). The reactions in the glycerol pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: sn-glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.8 or E.C. 1.1.1.94) and sn-glycerol-3-phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.21). To produce 1,3,-propanediol, the following enzymes are also included: sn-glycerol-3-P. glycerol dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.30) and 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.1.1.202). Exemplary sn-glycerol-3-P dehydrogenases include Saccharomyces cerevisiae dar1 and homologs thereof. Exemplary sn-glycerol-3-phosphatases include Saccharomyces cerevisiae gpp2 and homologs thereof. Exemplary sn-glycerol-3-P. glycerol dehydratases include K. pneumoniae dhaB1-3. Exemplary 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase include K. pneumoniae dhaT.

Production of 1,4-Butanediol or 1,3-Butadiene as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In one aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces 1,4-butanediol or 1,3-butanediene as the carbon-based products of interest. The metabolic reactions in the 1,4-butanediol or 1,3-butadiene pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: succinyl-CoA dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.n; e.g., C. kluyveri SucD), 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.2; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana GHBDH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.n; e.g., E. coli AldH), 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.1.1.202; e.g., K. pneumoniae DhaT), and optionally alcohol dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.-). Succinyl-CoA dehydrogenase converts succinyl-CoA and NADPH to succinic semialdehyde and CoA. 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase converts succinic semialdehyde and NADPH to 4-hydroxybutyrate. Aldehyde dehydrogenase converts 4-hydroxybutyrate and NADH to 4-hydroxybutanal. 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase converts 4-hydroxybutanal and NADH to 1,4-butanediol. Alcohol dehydratase converts 1,4-butanediol to 1,3-butadiene.

Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In one aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces polyhydroxybutyrate as the carbon-based products of interest (FIG. 18). The reactions in the polyhydroxybutyrate pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: acetyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase (E.C. 2.3.1.9), (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA:NADP+ oxidoreductase (E.C. 1.1.1.36) and polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (E.C. 2.3.1.-). Exemplary acetyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferases include Ralstonia eutropha phaA. Exemplary (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA:NADP+ oxidoreductases include Ralstonia eutropha phaB. Exemplary polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase include Ralstonia eutropha phaC. In the event that the host organism also has the capacity to degrade polyhydroxybutyrate, the corresponding degradation enzymes, such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutanoate] hydrolase (E.C. 3.1.1.75), may be inactivated. Hosts that lack the ability to naturally synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate generally also lack the capacity to degrade it, thus leading to irreversible accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate if the biosynthetic pathway is introduced.

Intracellular polyhydroxybutyrate can be measured by solvent extraction and esterification of the polymer from whole cells. Typically, lyophilized biomass is extracted with methanol-chloroform with 10% HCl as a catalyst. The chloroform dissolves the polymer, and the methanol esterifies it in the presence of HCl. The resulting mixture is extracted with water to remove hydrophilic substances and the organic phase is analyzed by GC.

Production of Lysine as the Carbon-Based Products of Interest

In one aspect, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention produces lysine as the carbon-based product of interest. There are several known lysine biosynthetic pathways. One lysine biosynthesis pathway is depicted in FIG. 19. The reactions in one lysine biosynthetic pathway are catalyzed by the following enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1; e.g. E. coli AspC), aspartate kinase (E.C. 2.7.2.4; e.g., E. coli LysC), aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.2.1.11; e.g., E. coli Asd), dihydrodipicolinate synthase (E.C. 4.2.1.52; e.g., E. coli DapA), dihydrodipicolinate reductase (E.C. 1.3.1.26; e.g., E. coli DapB), tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase (E.C. 2.3.1.117; e.g., E. coli DapD), N-succinyldiaminopimelate-aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.17; e.g., E. coli ArgD), N-succinyl-L-diaminopimelate desuccinylase (E.C. 3.5.1.18; e.g., E. coli DapE), diaminopimelate epimerase (E.C. 5.1.1.7; E. coli DapF), diaminopimelate decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.20; e.g., E. coli LysA). In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention expresses one or more enzymes from a lysine biosynthetic pathway. For example, one or more exogenous proteins can be selected from aspartate aminotransferase, aspartate kinase, aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase, N-succinyldiaminopimelate-aminotransferase, N-succinyl-L-diaminopimelate desuccinylase, diaminopimelate epimerase, diaminopimelate decarboxylase, L,L-diaminopimelate aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.83; e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana At4g33680), homocitrate synthase (E.C. 2.3.3.14; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS21), homoaconitase (E.C. 4.2.1.36; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS4, LYS3), homoisocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.87; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS12, LYS11, LYS10), 2-aminoadipate transaminase (E.C. 2.6.1.39; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARO8), 2-aminoadipate reductase (E.C. 1.2.1.31; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS2, LYS5), aminoadipate semialdehyde-glutamate reductase (E.C. 1.5.1.10; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS9, LYS13), lysine-2-oxoglutarate reductase (E.C. 1.5.1.7; e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae LYS1). The host organism can also express two or more, three or more, four or more, and the like, including up to all the protein and enzymes that confer lysine biosynthesis.

Production of γ-Valerolactone as the Carbon-Based Product of Interest

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention is engineered to produce γ-valerolactone as the carbon-based product of interest. One example γ-valerolactone biosynthetic pathway is shown in FIG. 20. In one embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph is engineered to express one or more of the following enzymes: propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-), beta-ketothiolase (E.C. 2.3.1.16; e.g., Ralstonia eutropha BktB), acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.36; e.g., Ralstonia eutropha PhaB), 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (E.C. 4.2.1.55; e.g., X. axonopodis Crt), vinylacetyl-CoA Δ-isomerase (E.C. 5.3.3.3; e.g., C. difficile AbfD), 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase (E.C. 2.8.3.-; e.g., C. kluyveri OrfZ), 1,4-lactonase (E.C. 3.1.1.25; e.g., that from R. norvegicus). Propionyl-CoA synthase is a multi-functional enzyme that converts 3-hydroxypropionate, ATP and NADPH to propionyl-CoA. Exemplary propionyl-CoA synthases include AAL47820, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:30 represents the E. coli codon optimized coding sequence for this propionyl-CoA synthase of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention provides nucleic acid molecule and homologs, variants and derivatives of SEQ ID NO:30. The nucleic acid sequence can have preferably 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81-85%, 90-95%, 96-98%, 99%, 99.9% or even higher identity to SEQ ID NO:30. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of the wild-type propionyl-CoA synthase gene. In another embodiment, the invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31.

Integration of Metabolic Pathways into Host Metabolism

The engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention can be produced by introducing expressible nucleic acids encoding one or more of the enzymes or proteins participating in one or more energy conversion, carbon fixation and, optionally, carbon product biosynthetic pathways. Depending on the host organism chosen for conferring a chemoautotrophic capability, nucleic acids for some or all of particular metabolic pathways can be expressed. For example, if a chosen host is deficient in one or more enzymes or proteins for desired metabolic pathways, then expressible nucleic acids for the deficient enzyme(s) or protein(s) are introduced into the host for subsequent exogenous expression. Alternatively, if the chosen host exhibits endogenous expression of some pathway genes, but is deficient in others, then an encoding nucleic acid is needed for the deficient enzyme(s) or protein(s) to achieve production of desired carbon products from inorganic energy and inorganic carbon. Thus, an engineered chemoautotroph of the invention can be produced by introducing exogenous enzyme or protein activities to obtain desired metabolic pathways or desired metabolic pathways can be obtained by introducing one or more exogenous enzyme or protein activities that, together with one or more endogenous enzymes or proteins, produces a desired product such as reduced cofactors, central metabolites and/or carbon-based products of interest.

Depending on the metabolic pathway constituents of a selected host microbial organism, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention can include at least one exogenously expressed metabolic pathway-encoding nucleic acid and up to all encoding nucleic acids for one or more energy conversion, carbon fixation and, optionally, carbon-based product pathways. For example, a RuMP-derived carbon fixation pathway can be established in a host deficient in a pathway enzyme or protein through exogenous expression of the corresponding encoding nucleic acid. In a host deficient in all enzymes or proteins of a metabolic pathway, exogenous expression of all enzyme or proteins in the pathway can be included, although it is understood that all enzymes or proteins of a pathway can be expressed even if the host contains at least one of the pathway enzymes or proteins. For example, exogenous expression of all enzymes or proteins in a carbon fixation pathway derived from the 3-HPA bicycle can be included, such as the acetyl-CoA carboxylase, malonyl-CoA reductase, propionyl-CoA synthase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, succinyl-CoA:(S)-malate CoA transferase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase, (S)-malyl-CoA/β-methylmalyl-CoA/(S)-citramalyl-CoA lyase, mesaconyl-C1-CoA hydratase, mesaconyl-CoA C1-C4 CoA transferase, and mesaconyl-C4-CoA hydratase. Given the teachings and guidance provided herein, those skilled in the art would understand that the number of encoding nucleic acids to introduce in an expressible form can, at least, parallel the metabolic pathway deficiencies of the selected host microbial organism.

Genetic Engineering Methods for Optimization of Metabolic Pathways

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention also can include other genetic modifications that facilitate or optimize production of a carbon-based product from an inorganic energy source and inorganic carbon or that confer other useful functions onto the host organism.

In one aspect, the expression levels of the proteins of interest of the energy conversion pathways, carbon fixation pathways and, optionally, carbon product biosynthetic pathways can be either increased or decreased by, for example, replacing or altering the expression control sequences with alternate expression control sequences encoded by standardized genetic parts. The exogenous standardized genetic parts can regulate the expression of either heterologous or endogenous genes of the metabolic pathway. Altered expression of the enzyme or enzymes and/or protein or proteins of a metabolic pathway can occur, for example, through changing gene position or gene order [Smolke, 2002b], altered gene copy number [Smolke, 2002a], replacement of a endogenous, naturally occurring regulated promoters with constitutive or inducible synthetic promoters, mutation of the ribosome binding sites [Wang, 2009], or introduction of RNA secondary structural elements and/or cleavage sites [Smolke, 2000; Smolke, 2001].

In another aspect, some engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention may require specific transporters to facilitate uptake of inorganic energy sources and/or inorganic carbon sources. In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs use formate as an inorganic energy source, inorganic carbon source or both. If formate uptake is limiting for either growth or production of carbon-based products of interest, then expression of one or more formate transporters in the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention can alleviate this bottleneck. The formate transporters may be heterologous or endogenous to the host organism. Exemplary formate transporters include NP_415424 and NP_416987, and homologs thereof. SEQ ID NO:54 and SEQ ID NO:55 represent E. coli codon optimized coding sequence each of these two formate transporters, respectively, of the present invention. The present invention provides nucleic acids each comprising or consisting of a sequence which is a codon optimized version of one of the wild-type malonyl-CoA reductase genes. In another embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids each encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of one of NP_415424 and NP_416987.

In addition, the invention provides an engineered chemoautotroph comprising a genetic modification conferring to the engineered chemoautotrophic microorganism an increased efficiency of using inorganic energy and inorganic carbon to produce carbon-based products of interest relative to the microorganism in the absence of the genetic modification. The genetic modification comprises one or more gene disruptions, whereby the one or more gene disruptions increase the efficiency of producing carbon-based products of interest from inorganic energy and inorganic carbon. In one aspect, the one or more gene disruptions target genes encoding competing reactions for inorganic energy, reduced cofactors, inorganic carbon, and/or central metabolites. In another aspect, the one or more gene disruptions target genes encoding competing reactions for intermediates or products of the energy conversion, carbon fixation, and/or carbon product biosynthetic pathways of interest. The competing reactions usually, but not exclusively, arise from metabolism endogenous to the host cell or organism.

A combination of different approaches may be used to identify candidate genetic modifications. Such approaches include, for example, metabolomics (which may be used to identify undesirable products and metabolic intermediates that accumulate inside the cell), metabolic modeling and isotopic labeling (for determining the flux through metabolic reactions contributing to hydrocarbon production), and conventional genetic techniques (for eliminating or substantially disabling unwanted metabolic reactions). For example, metabolic modeling provides a means to quantify fluxes through the cell's metabolic pathways and determine the effect of elimination of key metabolic steps. In addition, metabolomics and metabolic modeling enable better understanding of the effect of eliminating key metabolic steps on production of desired products.

To predict how a particular manipulation of metabolism affects cellular metabolism and synthesis of the desired product, a theoretical framework was developed to describe the molar fluxes through all of the known metabolic pathways of the cell. Several important aspects of this theoretical framework include: (i) a relatively complete database of known pathways, (ii) incorporation of the growth-rate dependence of cell composition and energy requirements, (iii) experimental measurements of the amino acid composition of proteins and the fatty acid composition of membranes at different growth rates and dilution rates and (iv) experimental measurements of side reactions which are known to occur as a result of metabolism manipulation. These new developments allow significantly more accurate prediction of fluxes in key metabolic pathways and regulation of enzyme activity [Keasling, 1999a; Keasling, 1999b; Martin, 2002; Henry, 2006].

Such types of models have been applied, for example, to analyze metabolic fluxes in organisms responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment reactors and in filamentous fungi producing polyketides [Pramanik, 1997; Pramanik, 1998a; Pramanik, 1998b; Pramanik, 1998c].

In some embodiments, the host organism may have native formate dehydrogenases or other enzymes that consume formate thereby competing with either energy conversion pathways that use formate as an inorganic energy source or carbon fixation pathways that use formate as an inorganic carbon source; hence, these competing formate consumption reactions may be disrupted to increase the efficiency of energy conversion and/or carbon fixation in the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. For example, in the host organism E. coli, there are three native formate dehydrogenases. Exemplary E. coli formate dehydrogenase genes for disruption include fdnG, fdnH, fdnI, fdoI, fdoH, fdoG and/or fdhF. Alternatively, since all three native formate dehydrogenases in E. coli require selenium and only those three enzymes require selenium, in a preferred embodiment, genes for selenium uptake and/or biosynthesis of selenocysteine, such as selA, selB, selC, and/or selD, are disrupted.

In other embodiments, the host organism may have native hydrogenases or other enzymes that consume molecular hydrogen thereby competing with energy conversion pathways that use hydrogen as an inorganic energy source. For example, in the host organism E. coli, there are four native hydrogenases although the fourth is not expressed to significant levels [Self, 2004]. Exemplary E. coli formate hydrogenase genes for disruption include hyaB, hybC, hycE, hyfG and fhlA. In another embodiment, a particular strain of the host organism can be selected that specifically lacks the competing reactions typical found in the species. For example, E. coli B strain BL21(DE3) lacks formate and hydrogenase metabolism unlike E. coli K strains [Pinske, 2011].

In some embodiments, the host organism may have metabolic reactions that compete with reactions of the carbon fixation pathways in the engineered chemoautotroph of the present invention. For example, in the host organism E. coli, the tricarboxylic acid cycle generally runs in the oxidative direction during aerobic growth and as a split reductive and oxidative branches during anaerobic growth. Hence, E. coli has several endogenous reactions that may compete with desired reactions of an rTCA-derived carbon fixation pathway. Exemplary E. coli enzymes whose function are candidates for disruption include citrate synthase (competes with reaction 1 in FIG. 3), 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (competes with reaction 6), isocitrate dehydrogenase (may compete with desired flux for reaction 7), isocitrate dehydrogenase phosphatase (competes with reaction 8), pyruvate dehydrogenase (competes with reaction 9).

In another aspect, some engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention may require alterations to the pool of intracellular reducing cofactors for efficient growth and/or production of the carbon-based product of interest from inorganic energy and inorganic carbon. In some embodiments, the total pool of NAD⁺/NADH in the engineered chemoautotroph is increased or decreased by adjusting the expression level of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.2.11). Over-expression of either the E. coli or Salmonella gene pncB which encodes nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase has been shown to increase total NAD⁺/NADH levels in E. coli [Wubbolts, 1990; Berrios-River, 2002; San, 2002]. In another embodiment, the availability of intracellular NADPH can be also altered by modifying the engineered chemoautotroph to express an NADH:NADPH transhydrogenase [Sauer, 2004; Chin, 2011]. In another embodiment, the total pool of ubiquinone in the engineered chemoautotroph is increased or decreased by adjusting the expression level of ubiquinone biosynthetic enzymes, such as p-hydroxybenzoate-polyprenyl pyrophosphate transferase and polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase. Overexpression of the corresponding E. coli genes ubiA and ispB increased the ubiquinone pool in E. coli [Zhu, 1995]. In another embodiment, the level of the redox cofactor ferredoxin in the engineered chemoautotroph can be increased or decreased by changing the expression control sequences that regulate its expression.

In another aspect, in addition to an inorganic energy and carbon source, some engineered chemoautotrophs may require a specific nutrients or vitamin(s) for growth and/or production of carbon-based products of interest. For example, hydroxocobalamin, a vitamer of vitamin B12, is a cofactor for particular enzymes of the present invention, such as methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (E.C. 5.4.99.2). Required nutrients are generally supplemented to the growth media during bench scale propagation of such organisms. However, such nutrients can be prohibitively expensive in the context of industrial scale bio-processing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the host cell is selected from an organism that naturally produces the required nutrient(s), such as Salmonella enterica or Pseudomonas denitrificans which naturally produces hydroxocobalamin. In an alternate embodiment, the need for a vitamin is obviated by modifying the engineered chemoautotroph to express a vitamin biosynthesis pathway [Roessner, 1995]. An exemplary biosynthesis pathway for hydroxocobalamin comprises the following enzymes: uroporphyrin-III C-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.107), precorrin-2 cobaltochelatase (E.C. 4.99.1.3), cobalt-precorrin-2 (C²⁰)-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.151), cobalt-precorrin-3 (C¹⁷)-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.131), cobalt precorrin-4 (C¹¹)-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.133), cobalt-precorrin 5A hydrolase (E.C. 3.7.1.12), cobalt-precorrin-5B (C¹)-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.195), cobalt-precorrin-6A reductase, cobalt-precorrin-6V (C⁵)-methyltransferase (E.C. 2.1.1.-), cobalt-precorrin-7 (C¹⁵)-methyltransferase (decarboxylating) (E.C. 2.1.1.196), cobalt-precorrin-8× methylmutase, cobyrinate A,C-diamide synthase (E.C. 6.3.5.11), cob(II)yrinate a,c-diamide reductase (E.C. 1.16.8.1), cob(I)yrinic acid a,c-diamide adenosyltransferase (E.C. 2.5.1.17), adenosyl-cobyrate synthase (E.C. 6.3.5.10), adenosylcobinamide phosphate synthase (E.C. 6.3.1.10), GTP:adenosylcobinamide-phosphate guanylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.7.62), nicotinate-nucleotide dimethylbenzimidazole phosphoribosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.2.21), adenosylcobinamide-GDP:α-ribazole-5-phosphate ribazoletransferase (E.C. 2.7.8.26) and adenosylcobalamine-5′-phosphate phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.73). In addition, to allow for cobalt uptake and incorporation into vitamin B 12, the genes encoding the cobalt transporter are overexpressed. The exemplary cobalt transporter protein found in Salmonella enterica is overexpressed and is encoded by proteins ABC-type Co²⁺ transport system, permease component (CbiM, NP_460968), ABC-type cobalt transport system, periplasmic component (CbiN, NP_460967), and ABC-type cobalt transport system, permease component (CbiQ, NP_461989).

In some embodiments, the intracellular concentration (e.g., the concentration of the intermediate in the engineered chemoautotroph) of the metabolic pathway intermediate can be increased to further boost the yield of the final product. For example, by increasing the intracellular amount of a substrate (e.g., a primary substrate) for an enzyme that is active in the metabolic pathway, and the like.

In another aspect, the carbon-based products of interest are or are derived from the intermediates or products of fatty acid biosynthesis. To increase the production of waxes/fatty acid esters, and fatty alcohols, one or more of the enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis can be over expressed or mutated to reduce feedback inhibition. Additionally, enzymes that metabolize the intermediates to make nonfatty-acid based products (side reactions) can be functionally deleted or attenuated to increase the flux of carbon through the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway thereby enhancing the production of carbon-based products of interest.

Growth-Based Selection Methods for Optimization of Engineered Carbon-Fixing Strains

Selective pressure provides a valuable means for testing and optimizing the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention. In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention can be evolved under selective pressure to optimize production of a carbon-based product from an inorganic energy source and inorganic carbon or that confer other useful functions onto the host organism. The ability of an optimized engineered chemoautotroph to replicate more rapidly than unmodified counterparts confirms the utility of the optimization. Similarly, the ability to survive and replicate in media lacking a required nutrient, such as vitamin B12, confirms the successful implementation of a nutrient biosynthetic module. In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs can be cultured in the presence of inorganic energy source(s), inorganic carbon and a limiting amount of organic carbon. Over time, the amount of organic carbon present in the culture media is decreased in order to select for evolved strains that more efficiently utilize the inorganic energy and carbon.

Evolution can occur as a result of either spontaneous, natural mutation or by addition of mutagenic agents or conditions to live cells. If desired, additional genetic variation can be introduced prior to or during selective pressure by treatment with mutagens, such as ultra-violet light, alkylators [e.g., ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), methyl methane sulfonate (MMS), diethylsulfate (DES), and nitrosoguanidine (NTG, NG, MMG)], DNA intercalcators (e.g., ethidium bromide), nitrous acid, base analogs, bromouracil, transposonsm and the like. The engineered chemoautotrophs can be propagated either in serial batch culture or in a turbidostat as a controlled growth rate.

Alternately or in addition to selective pressure, pathway activity can be monitored following growth under permissive (i.e., non-selective) conditions by measuring specific product output via various metabolic labeling studies (including radioactivity), biochemical analyses (Michaelis-Menten), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), mass spectrometry, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

To generate engineered chemoautrophs with improved yield of central metabolites and/or carbon-based products of interest, metabolic modeling can be utilized to guide strain optimization. Modeling analysis allows reliable predictions of the effects on cell growth of shifting the metabolism towards more efficient production of central metabolites or products derived from central metabolites. Modeling can also be used to design gene knockouts that additionally optimize utilization of the energy conversion, carbon fixation and carbon product biosynthetic pathways. In some embodiments, modeling is used to select growth conditions that create selective pressure towards uptake and utilization of inorganic energy and inorganic carbon. An in silico stoichiometric model of host organism metabolism and the metabolic pathway(s) of interest can be constructed (see, for example, a model of the E. coli metabolic network [Edwards, 2002]). The resulting model can be used to compute phenotypic phase planes for the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention. A phenotypic phase plane is a portrait of the accessible growth states of an engineered chemoautotroph as a function of imposed substrate uptake rates. A particular engineered chemoautotroph, at particular uptake rates for limiting nutrients, may not grow as well as the phenotypic phase plane predicts, but no strain should be able to grow better than indicated by the phenotypic phase plane. Under a variety of circumstances, it has been shown the modified E. coli strains evolve towards, and then along, the phenotypic phase plane, always in the direction of increasing growth rates [Fong, 2004]. Thus, a phenotypic phase plane can be viewed as a landscape of selective pressure. Strains in an environment where a given nutrient uptake is positively correlated with growth rate are predicted to evolve towards increased nutrient uptake. Conversely, strains in an environment where nutrient uptake are inversely correlated with growth rate are predicted to evolve away from nutrient uptake.

Fermentation Conditions

The engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention are cultured in a medium comprising inorganic energy source(s), inorganic carbon source(s) and any required nutrients. The culture conditions can include, for example, liquid culture procedures as well as fermentation and other large scale culture procedures.

The production and isolation of carbon-based products of interest can be enhanced by employing specific fermentation techniques. One method for maximizing production while reducing costs is increasing the percentage of the carbon that is converted to carbon-based products of interest. During normal cellular lifecycles carbon is used in cellular functions including producing lipids, saccharides, proteins, organic acids, and nucleic acids. Reducing the amount of carbon necessary for growth-related activities can increase the efficiency of carbon source conversion to output. This can be achieved by first growing engineered chemoautotrophs to a desired density, such as a density achieved at the peak of the log phase of growth. At such a point, replication checkpoint genes can be harnessed to stop the growth of cells. Specifically, quorum sensing mechanisms [Camilli, 2006; Venturi, 2006; Reading, 2006] can be used to activate genes such as p53, p21, or other checkpoint genes. Genes that can be activated to stop cell replication and growth in E. coli include umuDC genes, the over-expression of which stops the progression from stationary phase to exponential growth [Murli, 2000]. UmuC is a DNA polymerase that can carry out translesion synthesis over non-coding lesions—the mechanistic basis of most UV and chemical mutagenesis. The umuDC gene products are used for the process of translesion synthesis and also serve as a DNA damage checkpoint. UmuDC gene products include UmuC, UmuD, umuD′, UmuD′₂C, UmuD′₂ and UmUD₂. Simultaneously, the carbon product biosynthetic pathway genes are activated, thus minimizing the need for replication and maintenance pathways to be used while the carbon-based product of interest is being made.

Alternatively, cell growth and product production can be achieved simultaneously. In this method, cells are grown in bioreactors with a continuous supply of inputs and continuous removal of product. Batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentations are common and well known in the art and examples can be found in [Brock, 1989; Deshpande, 1992].

In a preferred embodiment, the engineered chemoautotroph is engineered such that the final product is released from the cell. In embodiments where the final product is released from the cell, a continuous process can be employed. In this approach, a reactor with organisms producing desirable products can be assembled in multiple ways. In one embodiment, the reactor is operated in bulk continuously, with a portion of media removed and held in a less agitated environment such that an aqueous product can self-separate out with the product removed and the remainder returned to the fermentation chamber. In embodiments where the product does not separate into an aqueous phase, media is removed and appropriate separation techniques (e.g., chromatography, distillation, etc.) are employed.

In an alternate embodiment, the product is not secreted by the engineered chemoautotrophs. In this embodiment, a batch-fed fermentation approach is employed. In such cases, cells are grown under continued exposure to inputs (inorganic energy and inorganic carbon) as specified above until the reaction chamber is saturated with cells and product. A significant portion to the entirety of the culture is removed, the cells are lysed, and the products are isolated by appropriate separation techniques (e.g., chromatography, distillation, filtration, centrifugation, etc.).

In certain embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention can be sustained, cultured or fermented under anaerobic or substantially anaerobic conditions. Briefly, anaerobic conditions refers to an environment devoid of oxygen. Substantially anaerobic conditions include, for example, a culture, batch fermentation or continuous fermentation such that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the medium remains between 0 and 10% of saturation. Substantially anaerobic conditions also includes growing or resting cells in liquid medium or on solid agar inside a sealed chamber maintained with an atmosphere of less than 1% oxygen. It is highly desirable to maintain anaerobic conditions in the fermenter to reduce the cost of the overall process.

If desired, the pH of the medium can be maintained at a desired pH, in particular neutral pH, such as a pH of around 7 by addition of a base, such as NaOH or other bases, or acid, as needed to maintain the culture medium at a desirable pH. The growth rate can be determined by measuring optical density using a spectrophotometer (600 nm), and the glucose uptake rate by monitoring carbon source depletion over time.

In another embodiment, the engineered chemoautotrophs can be cultured in the presence of an electron acceptor, for example, nitrate, in particular under substantially anaerobic conditions. It is understood that an appropriate amount of nitrate can be added to a culture to achieve a desired increase in biomass, for example, 1 mM to 100 mM nitrate, or lower or higher concentrations, as desired, so long as the amount added provides a sufficient amount of electron acceptor for the desired increase in biomass. Such amounts include, but are not limited to, 5 mM, 10 mM, 15 mM, 20 mM, 25 mM, 30 mM, 40 mM, 50 mM, as appropriate to achieve a desired increase in biomass.

In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs of the present invention are initially grown in culture conditions with a limiting amount of organic carbon to facilitate growth. Then, once the supply of organic carbon is exhausted, the engineered chemoautotrophs transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth relying on energy from an inorganic energy sources to fix inorganic carbon in order to produce carbon-based products of interest. The organic carbon can be, for example, a carbohydrate source. Such sources include, for example, sugars such as glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, fructose and starch. Other sources of carbohydrate include, for example, renewable feedstocks and biomass. Exemplary types of biomasses that can be used as feedstocks in the methods of the invention include cellulosic biomass, hemicellulosic biomass and lignin feedstocks or portions of feedstocks. Such biomass feedstocks contain, for example, carbohydrate substrates useful as carbon sources such as glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, mannose, fructose and starch. Given the teachings and guidance provided herein, those skilled in the art would understand that renewable feedstocks and biomass other than those exemplified above also can be used for culturing the engineered chemoautotrophs of the invention. In some embodiments, the engineered chemoautotrophs are optimized for a two stage fermentation by regulating the expression of the carbon product biosynthetic pathway.

In one aspect, the percentage of input carbon atoms converted to hydrocarbon products is an efficient and inexpensive process. Typical efficiencies in the literature are ˜<5%. Engineered chemoautotrophs which produce hydrocarbon products can have greater than 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% efficiency. In one example engineered chemoautotrophs can exhibit an efficiency of about 10% to about 25%. In other examples, such microorganisms can exhibit an efficiency of about 25% to about 30%, and in other examples such engineered chemoautotrophs can exhibit >30% efficiency.

In some examples where the final product is released from the cell, a continuous process can be employed. In this approach, a reactor with engineered chemoautrophs producing for example, fatty acid derivatives, can be assembled in multiple ways. In one example, a portion of the media is removed and allowed to separate. Fatty acid derivatives are separated from the aqueous layer, which can in turn, be returned to the fermentation chamber.

In another example, the fermentation chamber can enclose a fermentation that is undergoing a continuous reduction. In this instance, a stable reductive environment can be created. The electron balance would be maintained by the release of oxygen. Efforts to augment the NAD/H and NADP/H balance can also facilitate in stabilizing the electron balance.

Consolidated Chemoautotrophic Fermentation

The above aspect of the invention is an alternative to directly producing final carbon-based product of interest as a result of chemoautotrophic metabolism. In this approach, carbon-based products of interest would be produced by leveraging other organisms that are more amenable to making any one particular product while culturing the engineered chemoautotroph for its carbon source. Consequently, fermentation and production of carbon-based products of interest can occur separately from carbon source production in a bioreactor.

In one aspect, the methods of producing such carbon-based products of interest include two steps. The first-step includes using engineered chemoautotrophs to convert inorganic carbon to central metabolites or sugars such as glucose. The second-step is to use the central metabolites or sugars as a carbon source for cells that produce carbon-based products of interest. In one embodiment, the two-stage approach comprises a bioreactor comprising engineered chemoautotrophs; a second reactor comprising cells capable of fermentation; wherein the engineered chemoautotrophs provides a carbon source such as glucose for cells capable of fermentation to produce a carbon-based product of interest. The second reactor may comprise more than one type of microorganism. The resulting carbon-based products of interest are subsequently separated and/or collected.

Preferably, the two steps are combined into a single-step process whereby the engineered chemoautotrophs convert inorganic energy and inorganic carbon and directly into central metabolites or sugars such as glucose and such organisms are capable of producing a variety of carbon-based products of interest.

The present invention also provides methods and compositions for sustained glucose production in engineered chemoautotrophs wherein these or other organisms that use the sugars are cultured using inorganic energy and inorganic carbon for use as a carbon source to produce carbon-based products of interest. In such embodiments, the host cells are capable of secreting the sugars, such as glucose from within the cell to the culture media in continuous or fed-batch in a bioreactor.

Certain changes in culture conditions of engineered chemoautrophs for the production of sugars can be optimized for growth. For example, conditions are optimized for inorganic energy source(s) and their concentration(s), inorganic carbon source(s) and their concentration(s), electron acceptor(s) and their concentrations, addition of supplements and nutrients. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the conditions sufficient to achieve optimum growth can vary depending upon location, climate, and other environmental factors, such as the temperature, oxygen concentration and humidity. Other adjustments may be required, for example, an organism's ability for carbon uptake. Increased inorganic carbon, such as in the form of carbon dioxide, may be introduced into a bioreactor by a gas sparger or aeration devices.

Advantages of consolidated chemoautotrophic fermentation include a process where there is separation of chemical end products, e.g., glucose, spatial separation between end products (membranes) and time. Additionally, unlike traditional or cellulosic biomass to biofuels production, pretreatment, saccharification and crop plowing are obviated.

The consolidated chemoautrophic fermentation process produces continuous products. In preferred embodiments, the process involves direct conversion of inorganic energy and inorganic carbon to product from engineered front-end organisms to produce various products without the need to lyse the organisms. For instance, the organisms can utilize 3PGAL to make a desired fermentation product, e.g., ethanol. Such end products can be readily secreted as opposed to intracellular products such as oil and cellulose. In yet other embodiments, organisms produce sugars, which are secreted into the media and such sugars are used during fermentation with the same or different organisms or a combination of both.

Processing and Separation of Carbon-Based Products of Interest

The carbon-based products produced by the engineered chemoautotrophs during fermentation can be separated from the fermentation media. Known techniques for separating fatty acid derivatives from aqueous media can be employed. One exemplary separation process provided herein is a two-phase (bi-phasic) separation process. This process involves fermenting the genetically-engineered production hosts under conditions sufficient to produce for example, a fatty acid, allowing the fatty acid to collect in an organic phase and separating the organic phase from the aqueous fermentation media. This method can be practiced in both a batch and continuous fermentation setting.

Bi-phasic separation uses the relative immisciblity of fatty acid to facilitate separation. A skilled artisan would appreciate that by choosing a fermentation media and the organic phase such that the fatty acid derivative being produced has a high log P value, even at very low concentrations the fatty acid can separate into the organic phase in the fermentation vessel.

When producing fatty acids by the methods described herein, such products can be relatively immiscible in the fermentation media, as well as in the cytoplasm. Therefore, the fatty acid can collect in an organic phase either intracellularly or extracellularly. The collection of the products in an organic phase can lessen the impact of the fatty acid derivative on cellular function and allows the production host to produce more product.

The fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, waxes, and hydrocarbons produced as described herein allow for the production of homogeneous compounds with respect to other compounds wherein at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, waxes and hydrocarbons produced have carbon chain lengths that vary by less than 4 carbons, or less than 2 carbons. These compounds can also be produced so that they have a relatively uniform degree of saturation with respect to other compounds, for example at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of the fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, hydrocarbons and waxes are mono-, di-, or tri-unsaturated.

Detection and Analysis

Generally, the carbon-based products of interest produced using the engineered chemoautotrophs described herein can be analyzed by any of the standard analytical methods, e.g., gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, viscometry [Knothe, 1997; Knothe, 1999], titration for determining free fatty acids [Komers, 1997], enzymatic methods [Bailer, 1991], physical property-based methods, wet chemical methods, etc.

Carbon Fingerprinting

Biologically-produced carbon-based products, e.g., ethanol, fatty acids, alkanes, isoprenoids, represent a new commodity for fuels, such as alcohols, diesel and gasoline. Such biofuels have not been produced using biomass but use carbon dioxide as its carbon source. These new fuels may be distinguishable from fuels derived form petrochemical carbon on the basis of carbon-isotopic fingerprinting. Such products, derivatives, and mixtures thereof may be completely distinguished from their petrochemical derived counterparts on the basis of ¹⁴C (fM) and carbon-isotopic fingerprinting, indicating new compositions of matter.

There are three naturally occurring isotopes of carbon: ¹²C, ¹³C, and ¹⁴C. These isotopes occur in above-ground total carbon at fractions of 0.989, 0.011, and 10⁻¹², respectively. The isotopes ¹²C and ¹³C are stable, while ¹⁴C decays naturally with a half-life of 5730 years to ¹⁴N, a beta particle, and an anti-neutrino. The isotope ¹⁴C originates in the atmosphere, due primarily to neutron bombardment of ¹⁴N caused ultimately by cosmic radiation. Because of its relatively short half-life (in geologic terms), ¹⁴C occurs at extremely low levels in fossil carbon. Over the course of 1 million years without exposure to the atmosphere, just 1 part in 10⁵⁰ will remain ¹⁴C.

The ¹³C:¹²C ratio varies slightly but measurably among natural carbon sources. Generally these differences are expressed as deviations from the ¹³C:¹²C ratio in a standard material. The international standard for carbon is Pee Dee Belemnite, a form of limestone found in South Carolina, with a ¹³C fraction of 0.0112372. For a carbon source a, the deviation of the ¹³C:¹²C ratio from that of Pee Dee Belemnite is expressed as:

δ_(a)=(R_(a)/R_(s))−1, where R_(a)=¹³C:¹²C ratio in the natural source, and R_(s)=¹³C:¹²C ratio in Pee Dee Belemnite, the standard.

For convenience, δ_(a) is expressed in parts per thousand, or ‰. A negative value of δ_(a) shows a bias toward ¹²C over ¹³C as compared to Pee Dee Belemnite. Table 2 shows δ_(a) and ¹⁴C fraction for several natural sources of carbon.

TABLE 2 ¹³C:¹²C variations in natural carbon sources Source -δ_(a) (‰) References Underground coal 32.5 [Farquhar, 1989] Fossil fuels 26 [Farquhar, 1989] Ocean DIC* 0-1.5 [Goericke, 1994; Ivlev, 2010] Atmospheric CO₂ 6-8 [Ivlev, 2010; Farquhar, 1989] Freshwater DIC* 6-14 [Dettman, 1999] Pee Dee Belemnite  0 [Ivlev, 2010] *DIC = dissolved inorganic carbon.

Biological processes often discriminate among carbon isotopes. The natural abundance of ¹⁴C is very small, and hence discrimination for or against ¹⁴C is difficult to measure. Biological discrimination between ¹³C and ¹²C, however, is well-documented. For a biological product p, we can define similar quantities to those above:

δ_(p)=(R_(p)/R_(s))−1, where R_(p)=¹³C:¹²C ratio in the biological product, and R_(s)=1³C:¹²C ratio in Pee Dee Belemnite, the standard.

Table 3 shows measured deviations in the ¹³C:¹²C ratio for some biological products that arise from carbon fixation by the Calvin cycle. Other carbon fixation pathways provide different “fingerprint” ¹³C:¹²C ratios.

TABLE 3 ¹³C:¹²C variations in selected biological products. -epsilon Product -δ_(p) (‰) (‰)* References Plant sugar/starch from atmospheric CO₂   18-28   10-20 [Ivlev, 2010] Cyanobacterial biomass from marine DIC   18-31 16.5-31 [Goericke, 1994; Sakata, 1997] Cyanobacterial lipid from marine DIC   39-40 37.5-40 [Sakata, 1997] Algal lipid from marine DIC   17-28 15.5-28 [Goericke, 1994; Abelseon, 1961] Algal biomass from freshwater DIC   17-36   3-30 [Marty, 2008] E. coli lipid from plant sugar   15-27 near 0 [Monson, 1980] Cyanobacterial lipid from fossil carbon 63.5-6 37.5-40 — Cyanobacterial biomass from fossil carbon 42.5-57 16.5-31 — *epsilon = fractionation by a biological process in its utilization of ¹²C versus ¹³C (see text)

Table 3 introduces a new quantity, epsilon. This is the discrimination by a biological process in its utilization of ¹²C vs. ¹³C. We define epsilon as follows: epsilon=(R_(p)/R_(a))−1.

This quantity is very similar to δ_(a) and δ_(p), except we now compare the biological product directly to the carbon source rather than to a standard. Using epsilon, we can combine the bias effects of a carbon source and a biological process to obtain the bias of the biological product as compared to the standard. Solving for δ_(p), we obtain: δ_(p)=(epsilon)(δ_(a))+epsilon+δ_(a), and, because (epsilon)(δ_(a)) is generally very small compared to the other terms, δ_(p)≈δ_(a)+epsilon.

For a biological product having a production process with a known epsilon, we may therefore estimate δ_(p) by summing δ_(a) and epsilon. We assume that epsilon operates irrespective of the carbon source.

This has been done in Table 3 for cyanobacterial lipid and biomass produced from fossil carbon. As shown in the Tables above, cyanobacterial products made from fossil carbon (in the form of, for example, flue gas or other emissions) can have a higher δ_(p) than those of comparable biological products made from other sources, distinguishing them on the basis of composition of matter from these other biological products. In addition, any product derived solely from fossil carbon can have a negligible fraction of ¹⁴C, while products made from above-ground carbon can have a ¹⁴C fraction of approximately 10⁻¹².

Accordingly, in certain aspects, the invention provides various carbon-based products of interest characterized as −δ_(p)(‰) of about 63.5 to about 66 and −epsilon(‰) of about 37.5 to about 40. For carbon-based products that are derived from engineered autotrophs that make use of carbon fixation pathways other than the Calvin cycle, epsilon, and thus 6, can vary, as previously described [Hayes, 2001].

Sequences Provided by the Invention

Table 4 provides a summary of SEQ ID NOs: 1-60 disclosed herein.

TABLE 4 Sequences SEQ ID NO Sequence  1 Codon optimized Burkholderia stabilis NADP⁺ FDH gene  2 Codon optimized Candida methylica NAD⁺ FDH gene  3 Codon optimized Candida boidinii NAD⁺ FDH gene  4 Codon optimized Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c NAD⁺ FDH gene  5 Clostridium pasteurianum putative ferredoxin-FDH FdhF subunit amino acid sequence  6 Clostridium pasteurianum putative ferredoxin-FDH FdhD subunit amino acid sequence  7 Clostridium pasteurianum putative FDH-associated ferredoxin domain containing protein 1 amino acid sequence  8 Clostridium pasteurianum putative FDH-associated ferredoxin domain containing protein 2 amino acid sequence  9 Codon optimized Aquifex aeolicus VF5 SQR gene 10 Codon optimized Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 SQR gene 11 Codon optimized Chlorobium tepidum TLS SQR gene 12 Codon optimized Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 SQR gene 13 Codon optimized Allochromatium vinosum DSM 180 SQR gene 14 Codon optimized Rhodobacter capsulatus SB 1003 SQR gene 15 Codon optimized Thiobacillus denitrificans ATCC 25259 SQR gene 16 Codon optimized Magnetococcus sp. MC-1 SQR gene 17 Codon optimized Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin gene 18 Codon optimized Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6 fdx1 gene 19 Codon optimized Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6 fdx2 gene 20 Codon optimized Methanosarcina barkeri str. Fusaro ferredoxin gene 21 Codon optimized Aquifex aeolicus fdx7 gene 22 Aquifex aeolicus fdx7 amino acid sequence 23 Codon optimized Aquifex aeolicus fdx6 gene 24 Aquifex aeolicus fdx6 amino acid sequence 25 Codon optimized gamma-proteobacterium NOR51-B MCR gene 26 Codon optimized Roseiflexus castenholzii DSM 13941 MCR gene 27 Codon optimized marine gamme proteobacterium HTCC2080 MCR gene 28 Codon optimized Erythrobacter sp. NAP1 MCR gene 29 Codon optimized Chloroflexus aurantiacus J-10-fl MCR gene 30 Codon optimized Chloroflexus aurantiacus PCS gene 31 Chloroflexus aurantiacus PCS amino acid sequence 32 Codon optimized Metallosphaera sedula PccB gene 33 Codon optimized Metallosphaera sedula AccC gene 34 Codon optimized Metallosphaera sedula AccB gene 35 Codon optimized Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 PccB gene 36 Codon optimized Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 AccC gene 37 Codon optimized Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 AccB gene 38 Codon optimized Cenarchaeum symbiosum A PccB gene 39 Codon optimized Cenarchaeum symbiosum A AccC gene 40 Codon optimized Cenarchaeum symbiosum A AccB gene 41 Codon optimized Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 PccB gene 1 42 Codon optimized Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 PccB gene 2 43 Codon optimized Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 AccB gene 1 44 Codon optimized Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 AccC gene 2 45 Codon optimized Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 AccB gene 46 Codon optimized Methylcoccus capsulatus str. Bath HPS gene 1 47 Codon optimized Methylcoccus capsulatus str. Bath HPS gene 2 48 Codon optimized Methylcoccus capsulatus str. Bath PHI gene 49 Codon optimized Mycobacterium gastri MB19 HPS-PHI fusion gene 50 Mycobacterium gastri MB19 HPS-PHI fusion amino acid sequence 51 Codon optimized Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 GAPDH gene 52 Codon optimized Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 SBPase gene 53 Codon optimized Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 PRK gene 54 Codon optimized Escherichia coli FocA gene 55 Codon optimized Escherichia coli FocB gene 56 Plasmid 2430 57 Plasmid 2429 58 Plasmid 4767 59 Plasmid 4768 60 Plasmid 4986 61 Codon optimized Escherichia coli ACS gene 62 Codon optimized Listeria monocytogenes ADH gene 63 Plasmid 9463 64 Plasmid 9462 65 Plasmid 20566 66 Plasmid 27439

EXAMPLES

The examples below are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be restrictive.

Example 1: Identification and Selection of Candidate Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase Enzymes

To identify candidate sulfide-quinone oxidoreductases (SQR) for the energy conversion pathway that uses hydrogen sulfide as an inorganic energy source, the Rhodobacter capsulatus SQR was selected as the model enzyme. The R. capsulatus SQR has been functionally expressed in the heterologous host E. coli [Schütz, 1997] and demonstrated to reduce ubiquinone [Shibata, 2001]. A search of the NCBI Protein Clusters database was performed using the search term “sulfide quinone reductase” and 17 different protein clusters were identified as of Feb. 1, 2011 (CLSK2755575, CLSK2397089, CLSK2336986, CLSK2302249, CLSK2299965, CLSK943035, CLSK940594, CLSK917086, CLSK903971, CLSK892907, CLSK884384, CLSK871744, CLSK871685, CLSK870501, CLSK785404, CLSK767599, CLSK724710). The 17 protein clusters comprised 203 putative SQRs which were subsequently aligned using MUSCLE 3.8.31 using sequence YP_003443063 as an outgroup. The resulting alignment was imported into Geneious Pro 5.3.6 and a tree was made using a neighbor-joining method. Based on the alignment, any sequences containing less than four of six conserved residues were eliminated from the set. The six conserved residues were three conserved cysteines, two conserved histidines thought to be involved n quinone binding and the absence of a conserved aspartate that is characteristic of all glutathion reductase family of flavoproteins with the exception of SQRs [Griesbeck, 2000]. The resulting sequences were realigned using MUSCLE and a new tree was made. Representative sequences from each clade were selected as candidate SQRs.

Example 2: Engineered E. coli that Transfer Electrons from Formate to NADH or NADPH

Plasmids comprising a high copy number replication origin, chloramphenicol resistance marker and each of two different codon-optimized formate dehydrogenase (fdh) genes under the control of an rrnB-derived constitutive promoter were constructed using DNA assembly methods described in WO/2010/070295. The resulting plasmids 2430 (SEQ ID NO:56) and 2429 (SEQ ID NO:57) and transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques. As a negative control, an expression plasmid without any fdh gene was also constructed. As a positive control, purified NAD⁺-dependent FDH enzyme obtained from commercial sources was used.

Cultures propagating each of the plasmids were inoculated from glycerol stocks and grown overnight in a 24-well plate with fresh LB media supplemented with 34 μg/ml chloramphenicol at 37° C. The grown cultures were then diluted into 1 ml fresh media in a 96-well plate. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 3000×g and the supernatant decanted. The cell pellets were resuspended in 100 μl complete B-PER (contains DNaseI and lysozyme). The assay reactions were prepared in a 96-well assay plate and contained the following: 100 μl of 200 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 (made by titering 200 mM dipotassium hydrogen phosphate into 200 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate until the solution pH reached 7.0), 15 μl of 10 mM NAD(P)⁺ as appropriate, 20 μl cell lysate, and 30 μl 0.5 M sodium formate. The absorbance at 340 nm of each sample was measured every 20 seconds in a Spectramax Gemini Plus plate reader in order to monitor the reduction of NAD(P)⁺. The assay plate was maintained at a temperature of 37° C. The measured rates of NAD(P)⁺ reduction were normalized to the number of cells used to prepare the cell lysates. The assay results are shown in FIG. 21. From the assay data, the quantitative activities of each FDH can be computed as well as their cofactor preference (Table 5).

TABLE 5 Quantitative, measured activities of FDH amol NADP⁺ amol NADP⁺ ln Plasmid min⁻¹ CFU⁻¹ min⁻¹ CFU⁻¹ (NADP⁺/NAD⁺) negative −0.05 0.18 — control 2430 21.37 3.06 1.9 2429 0.12 9.79 −4.4

Example 3: Engineered E. coli that Oxidizes Hydrogen Sulfide

Plasmids comprising a high copy number replication origin, chloramphenicol resistance marker and a codon-optimized sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus (sqr) gene under the control of two different rrnB-derived constitutive promoters were constructed using DNA assembly methods described in WO/2010/070295. The resulting plasmids 4767 (SEQ ID NO:58) and 4768 (SEQ ID NO:59) were transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques. As a negative control, an expression plasmid without a constitutive promoter but including the sqr gene was also constructed.

Cultures propagating each of the plasmids were inoculated from glycerol stocks and grown for two days in an 8-well plate with fresh LB media supplemented with 34 μg/ml chloramphenicol at 30° C. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 2500 rpm and the supernatant decanted. The cell pellets were resuspended in 2 ml of SQR assay buffer (5 g/L sodium chloride, 5 mM magnesium chloride hexahydrate, 1 mM calcium chloride dihydrate, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5). The absorbance at 600 nm of a 100 μl aliquot of each resuspended culture was measured to monitor the cell density. The assay reactions were prepared in a 96-well plate containing 0, 100, 150, 200 μl of SQR assay buffer; 10 μl of 0.1M sodium sulfide; and 200, 100, 50, and 0 μl of resuspended cells. The absorbance at 600 nm of each assay reaction was measured to monitor the cell density. The sampling reactions were prepared in a 96-well assay plate and contained the following: 90 μl of Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 8 μl aliquot from sampling plate; and 8 μl Cline reagent [Cline, 1969]. The absorbance at 670 nm of each sampling reaction was measured to monitor the sulfide concentration. The assay results are shown in FIG. 22. Based on this data, we estimate the sulfide oxidation rates in the cell resuspensions to be between 2-3.5 mM hour⁻¹ or roughly 0.5-2.0 mmol sulfide g DCW⁻¹ hour⁻¹.

Example 4: Engineered E. coli Producing Propionyl-coA from 3-Hydroxypropionate

Plasmids comprising a high copy number replication origin, chloramphenicol resistance marker and a codon-optimized propionyl-coA synthase from Chloroflexus aurantiacus (pcs) gene under the control of two different rrnB-derived constitutive promoters were constructed using DNA assembly methods described in WO/2010/070295. The resulting plasmid 4986 (SEQ ID NO:60) was transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques. As a negative control, an expression plasmid without the pcs gene was also constructed.

Cultures propagating each of the plasmids were inoculated from glycerol stocks and grown overnight in a 24-well plate with fresh LB media supplemented with 34 μg/ml chloramphenicol at 37° C. Cells were pelleted by centrifugation and the supernatant decanted. The cell pellets were resuspended in 600 μl complete B-PER (contains DNaseI and lysozyme) and incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. The assay reactions were prepared in a 96-well assay plate and contained the following: 71 μl of reaction buffer (3 mM ATP, 0.5 mM CoASH, 0.4 mM NADPH, 1×PCS buffer), 20 μl of cell lysate and 9 μl of a ten-fold dilution of chemically synthesized 3-hydroxypropionate (see below). The 1×PCS buffer contained 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 10 mM potassium chloride, 5 mM magnesium chloride hexahydrate, 2 mM 1,4-dithioerythritol. The absorbance at 340 nm of each assay reaction was measured every 12 seconds to monitor the oxidation of NADPH. As controls, the assay reaction contain lysate from a strain propagating plasmid 4986 was also assayed in the absence of each required substrate (ATP, CoASH, NADPH, 3-hydroxypropionate or 3-HPAA). The assay results are shown in FIG. 23.

The chemical 3-hydroxypropionate is used a substrate in enzymatic assays of propionyl-coA synthase (PCS). 3-hydroxypropionate can be made via chemical synthesis from β-propiolactone via the following method. A solution is prepared containing 0.3 M technical grade β-propiolactone (Sigma Aldrich catalog number P-5648) and 2 M sodium hydroxide and incubated overnight at room temperature. The solution is then neutralized with either hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid. The presence of the reaction product 3-hydroxypropionate can be confirmed via LC-MS. LC-MS can also reveal that no other measureable side-products are formed. Since the starting material, β-propiolactone, is highly bacteriocidal, but the product, 3-hydroxypropionate, is not, growth inhibition assays can also be used to demonstrate complete conversion of the starting material.

Example 5: Engineered E. coli with Reduced Competing Formate Uptake Activity

The formate uptake of a series of gene deletion strains of E. coli were analyzed as to identify genes responsible for competing, endogenous formate uptake activity in E. coli. All deletion strains were obtained from the Keio collection [Baba, 2006]. The negative control was the absence of cells. Cultures were grown aerobically in LB medium supplemented with 50 mM formate overnight, harvested by centrifugation, resuspended in fresh LB medium with formate, and incubated for four hours to allow the cells to reenter growth phase. The cells were then resuspended in either M9 minimal medium with 50 mM formate as the sole carbon source (results shown in Table 6) or LB medium with 50 mM formate (results shown in Table 7). Assays for formate levels (as measured in mM of formate) were performed as described in Example 8 at different timepoints.

TABLE 6 Formate uptake by various deletion strains, minimal medium Strain genotype 0 20 40 60 240 negative control 88 89 98 90 85 ΔfdhF 89 91 85 66 46 ΔfdnG 84 80 65 48 14 ΔfdoG 84 77 93 54 54 ΔselA 84 130 93 88 77 ΔselB 89 124 95 86 59

TABLE 7 Formate uptake by various deletion strains, rich medium Strain genotype 0 20 40 60 240 negative control 68 74 74 64 70 ΔfdhF 81 76 74 66 62 ΔfdnG 73 74 66 57 28 ΔfdoG 77 74 69 63 64 ΔselA 77 78 76 72 78 ΔselB 72 46 67 60 76

Example 6: Assay Methods to Measure Hydrogenase Activity

The following assay can be used to measure hydrogenase enzyme activity in intact cells. All steps are performed in a Shel-labs Bactron IV anaerobic chamber containing anaerobic mixed gas (90% nitrogen gas, 5% hydrogen gas, 5% carbon dioxide). Cultures with and without hydrogenase activity are inoculated from single colonies on LB-agar plates and grown overnight in a 24-well plate with fresh LB media. An aliquot of each culture (1-2 ml) is pelleted by centrifugation and the supernatant decanted. The cells are then resuspended in 1-2 ml 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6. A very small amount of sodium dithionite is picked up with a pipette tip and dissolved into 100 μl of 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6. The assay reactions are prepared in a 96-well plate and contain the following: 100 μl resuspended cells and 100 μl 0.8 mM methyl viologen in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6. The 96-well plate is then loaded into a Biochrom UVM340 spectrophotometric plate reader and the absorbance at 600 nm is measured at 45 second intervals. To validate the assay, we assayed E. coli strain 242 (K strain MG1655), strain 312 (B strain BL21 DE3 with pLysS plasmid) and strain 393 (B strain BL21 DE2 with genes tonA, hycE, hyaB and hybC deleted). E. coli K strains are known to have hydrogenase activity whereas B strains do not [Pinske, 2011]. Assay results are shown in FIG. 24.

Example 7: Identification and Sequencing of a Formate-Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase from Clostridium pasteurianum

A culture sample of Clostridium pasteurianum W5 (ATCC 6013) was obtained from the ATCC (genome size is 3.9 Mbp) [Fogel, 1999]. The strain was cultured under anaerobic conditions in reinforced clostridial medium (Difco). Four aliquots of 1 ml of culture were pelleted by centrifugation at 6000×g for 5 minutes and the supernatant removed by aspiration. Genomic DNA was isolated with the Wizard genomic DNA purification kit (Promega) according to the manufacturer's instructions for Gram-positive bacteria with the following exceptions. In the lysis step, 10 mg/L lysozyme in 10 mM Tris, 0.5 mM EDTA, pH 8.2 was used without any additional lysis enzymes. Also, 10 mM Tris, 0.5 mM EDTA, pH 8.2 was used in lieu of DNA rehybridization solution. The DNA yield was approximate 26 μg of DNA from 4 ml of culture. The genomic DNA was sequenced at the Harvard/MGH sequencing facility. They prepared 160 bp inserts from the genomic DNA and obtained 300 MM 75 bp paired end reads on an Illumina HiSeq sequencer. The resulting coverage was 5000×. De novo assembly of the reads using Velvet resulting in 170 contigs greater than 5 kb in length comprising 3.9 Mbp. The resulting contigs were analyzed by Glimmer resulting in 3474 identified ORFs comprising 3.6 Mbp. A BLASTable database of amino acid sequences of all identified ORFs was produced using NCBI BLAST formatdb tool and subsequently a BLASTable contig database was generated. Based on inspection of the BLAST results, two putative FDH subunits were identified (SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6) as well as two putative associated ferredoxin domain containing subunits (SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8).

Example 8: Assay Methods to Measure Formate Uptake by Intact Cells

The following assay can be used to measure formate levels in cultures thereby facilitating measurement of formate uptake by intact cells. Cultures are inoculated from glycerols and grown overnight in a 24-well plate with fresh LB media supplemented with the appropriate antibiotic as needed. The cultures are pelleted and an aliquot of the supernatant (300 μl) is saved. The assay reactions are prepared in a 96-well plate and contain the following: 80 μl of 200 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, 15 μl of freshly prepared 100 mM NAD⁺, 35 μl of culture supernant, 20 μl of 100× dilution of pure FDH enzyme purchased commercially. The 96-well plate is then loaded into a Spectramax spectrophotometric plate reader and the absorbance at 340 nm is measured at 12 second intervals preceded by 5 seconds of mixing. The rate of NADH formation can be calculated from the rate of change in the absorbance at 340 nm and varies with the level of formate in the sample (FIG. 25).

Example 9: Methods for Growth-Based Selections for 2-Oxoglutarate Synthase Activity

To select for functional 2-oxoglutarate synthase activity in E. coli, the following growth-based selection can be used. A strain with the gene encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase rendered non-functional is used such that the strain cannot make 2-oxoglutarate (a precursor to glutamate synthesis in the cell). Such a strain can only grow in glucose minimal media that is supplemented with either glutamate or proline (proline degradation produces glutamate) [Helling, 1971]. Strain 149 (CGSC#4451) has the icd-3 mutation rendering isocitrate dehydrogenase non-functional. Table 8 shows the results of endpoint absorbance at 600 nm measurements of Strain 149 grown under different conditions for 36 hours at 37° C. The negative control is M9 media with glucose with no cells. All readings shown are an average of three measurement replicates of the same culture.

TABLE 8 Endpoint A 600 nm measurements of Strain 149 Growth conditions Average Std Dev Negative control 0.0358 0.0003 M9 media + glucose 0.0363 0.0008 M9 media + glucose + glutamate 0.2155 0.0073 M9 media + glucose + proline 0.1913 0.0041 M9 media + glucose + glutamate + proline 0.2145 0.0049

When grown under anaerobic conditions, E. coli runs a branched version of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Hence, the glutamate/proline auxotrophy phenotype of strains such as Strain 149 in which the icd gene is rendered non-functional can be rescued by introduction of an exogenous, functional 2-oxoglutarate synthase (FIG. 26).

Example 10: Methods for Growth-Based Selections for Formate Utilization

Using a model of E. coli metabolism [Edwards, 2002], the phenotypic phase planes for E. coli under a variety of growth conditions were computed. The growth conditions examined included formate co-metabolism with a second, limiting organic carbon source under both anaerobic and aerobic (i.e., unlimited oxygen uptake) conditions. The organic carbon sources examined include glucose, glycerol, malate, succinate, acetate and glycolate. For each carbon source, several in silico genotypes were evaluated including (1) wild-type E. coli, (2) E. coli with its native formate dehydrogenases (FDH) enzymes removed, (3) wild-type E. coli with a heterologous NAD(P)⁺-dependent FDH and (4) E. coli with native FDHs removed and a heterologous NAD(P)⁺-dependent FDH. The purpose of the analysis was to identify growth conditions that created selective pressure for increased formate uptake and utilization. Based on the computed phenotypic phase planes (FIG. 27), increased formate uptake correlated with increased growth rates under aerobic growth conditions with a non-fermentable inorganic carbon source (glycerol >succinate >malate=propionate >acetate >glycolate). Hence, this set of growth conditions is the preferred set of conditions for growth-based selections for formate utilization. The model analysis also suggests that wildtype E. coli is capable of growth on formate as a sole carbon source with a predicted doubling time of 1.4 days and that inclusion of an exogenous NAD⁺-dependent FDH reduces the doubling time (FIG. 28).

E. coli strains can be evolved for improved formate utilization either through repeated subculturing or through continuous culturing in a chemostat or turbidostat using the above culture conditions.

Example 11: Computing Mass Transfer Limitations of Hydrogen Versus Formate as an Inorganic Energy Source

The mass transfer limitations of hydrogen from the gas to liquid phase is illustrated here. For the purpose of this analysis, an ideal engineered chemoautotroph that has an unlimited capacity to (i) metabolize dissolved aqueous-phase hydrogen and (ii) convert it and carbon dioxide to a desired fuel at 100% of the theoretical yield is assumed. Under these conditions, the rate of fuel production per unit of reactor volume can depend solely on the rate at which hydrogen can be transferred from the gas phase to the liquid phase.

Fuel productivity P in units of g·L⁻¹·h⁻¹ can be expressed as the product of fuel molecular weight m_(F), fuel molar yield on hydrogen Y_(F/H), the biomass concentration in a bioreactor X, and the specific cellular uptake rate of hydrogen q_(H), as shown in the equation below.

P=m _(F) Y _(F/H) Xq _(H)

At steady state, the bulk hydrogen uptake rate Xq_(H) is equal to the rate of hydrogen transfer from gas to liquid, meaning the productivity can be expressed as in the equation below, where C* is the liquid-phase solubility of hydrogen, C_(L) is the liquid-phase concentration of hydrogen, and K_(L)a is the mass transfer coefficient for hydrogen transport from the gas phase (e.g., as bubbles sparged into the reactor) to the liquid. K_(L)a is a complex function of reactor geometry, bubble size, superficial gas velocity, impeller speed, etc. and is best regarded as an empirical parameter that needs to be determined for a given bioreactor setup.

P=m _(F) Y _(F/H) K _(L) a(C*−C _(L))

Again, as a best-case scenario, an ideal engineered chemoautotroph capable of maintaining rapid hydrogen uptake rates even at vanishingly low hydrogen concentrations (i.e. that q_(H) is not a function of C_(L) even as C_(L) tends to zero) is assumed. This assumption maximizes the fuel productivity at P=m_(F)Y_(F/H)K_(L)aC*.

For a fixed production target t, say 0.5 t d⁻¹ (equivalent to 20800 g h⁻¹), the productivity P determines the required reactor volume V because V t/β. Thus, both fuel productivity and reactor volumes, even assuming “perfect” organisms, are bounded by achieveable K_(L)a values, as shown in the equations below.

P = (m_(F)Y_(F/H)C^(*))K_(L)a $V = \frac{t}{\left( {m_{F}Y_{F/H}C^{*}} \right)K_{L}a}$

Maximal productivity corresponds to minimal reaction volumes, and occurs at maximal values of m_(F)Y_(F/H)C*K_(L)a. The fuel yield cannot exceed the stoichiometric maximal yield. For the fuel isooctanol, the stoichiometric maximal yield is determined from the balanced chemical equation 8 CO₂+24 H₂→C₈H₁₈O+15 H₂O, which shows that 24 moles of H₂ are required for each mole of isooctanol produced. At atmospheric pressure, C* is unlikely to greatly exceed 0.75 mM, the solubility of H₂ in pure water. Using these representative values for representative values for m_(F), Y_(F/H), C* and t, the relationships between K_(L)a and P as well as between K_(L)a and t are shown (FIG. 29).

Alternative electron donors have the potential to solve both the safety problem and the mass transfer problem presented by hydrogen. An ideal non-hydrogen vector for carrying electrical energy would share hydrogen's attractive characteristics, which include (a) a highly negative standard reduction potential, and (b) established high-efficiency technology to for converting electricity into the vector. Unlike hydrogen, however, it would (c) have a low propensity to explode when mixed with air, and (d) have high water solubility under bio-compatible conditions. Formic acid, HCOOH, or its salts, satisfies these conditions. Formic acid is stoichiometrically equivalent to H₂+CO₂, and formate has as standard reduction potential nearly identical to that of hydrogen. Since both formic acid and formate salts are highly soluble in water, the mass transfer limitations discussed above for hydrogen do not apply. However, a modified form of the fuel productivity equation, written for formic acid (A) instead of hydrogen (H), still applies, as shown below.

P=m _(F) Y _(F/A) Xq _(A)

Unlike hydrogen-powered electrofuels bioproduction, limits on formate-powered fuel productivity P stem only from the attainable yield, the biomass concentration in the reactor, and the specific uptake rate. We assume Y_(F/A), the molar yield of fuel on formic acid, is the stoichiometric maximum, whose value is the same as for hydrogen, 0.0467 mol isooctanol (mol HCOOH)⁻¹. For high-cell density cultivations of E. coli, biomass concentrations of X=50 gDCW L⁻¹ are attainable, although these values have not been observed for growth on formate or in minimal medium. For Thiobacillus strain A2, naturally capable of growing on formate, observed values of were 0.0368 mol formate·gDCW⁻¹·h⁻¹ [Kelly, 1979]. The representative values for q_(A) and X imply a maximal isooctanol productivity on formate of about 10 g·L⁻¹·h⁻¹.

On the y-axis of FIG. 29, the range of reported K_(L)a attainable in large-scale stirred-tank bioreactors is shown. Although there are many reports of higher K_(L)a values in laboratory-scale reactors, during scale up the inevitable increase in volume-to-surface area ratios means that maintaining high K_(L)a values is for practical purposes impossible. The maximum of the indicated range of 10-800 h⁻¹ translates to a best-case productivity of 4 g·L⁻¹·h⁻¹, which implies a best-case reactor volume of 6,400 L. The best-case productivity on formate is 10 g·L⁻¹·h⁻¹, implying a reactor volume less than half as large would be required to achieve the same production. Most sources that give K_(L)a values for large scale reactors have values much closer to 100 h⁻¹, meaning the best-case productivity using formate as the inorganic energy source would be more than 15 times larger than on hydrogen.

Example 12: Engineered Organisms Producing Butanol

The enzyme beta-ketothiolase (R. eutropha PhaA or E. coli AtoB) (E.C. 2.3.1.16) converts 2 acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA and CoA. Acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (R. eutropha PhaB) (E.C. 1.1.1.36) generates R-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA from acetoacetyl-CoA and NADPH. Alternatively, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (C. acetobutylicum Hbd) (E.C. 1.1.1.30) generates S-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA from acetoacetyl-CoA and NADH. Enoyl-CoA hydratase (E. coli MaoC or C. acetobutylicum Crt) (E.C. 4.2.1.17) generates crotonyl-CoA from 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. Butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (C. acetobutylicum Bcd) (E.C. 1.3.99.2) generates butyryl-CoA and NAD(P)H from crotonyl-CoA. Alternatively, trans-enoyl-coenzyme A reductase (Treponema denticola Ter) (E.C. 1.3.1.86) generates butyryl-CoA from crotonyl-CoA and NADH. Butyrate CoA-transferase (R. eutropha Pct) (E.C. 2.8.3.1) generates butyrate and acetyl-CoA from butyryl-CoA and acetate. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (E. coli AdhE) (E.C. 1.2.1. {3,4}) generates butanal from butyrate and NADH. Alcohol dehydrogenase (E. coli adhE) (E.C. 1.1.1. {1,2}) generates 1-butanol from butanal and NADH, NADPH. Production of 1-butanol is conferred by the engineered host cell by expression of the above enzyme activities.

To create butanol-producing cells, host cells can be further engineered to express acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (atoB) from E. coli K12, β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase from Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, crotonase from Clostridium beijerinckii, butyryl CoA dehydrogenase from Clostridium beijerinckii, CoA-acylating aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) from Cladosporium fulvum, and adhE encoding an aldehyde-alcohol dehydrogenase of Clostridium acetobutylicum (or homologs thereof).

Example 13: Engineered Organisms Producing Acrylate

Enoyl-CoA hydratase (E. coli paaF) (E.C. 4.2.1.17) converts 3-hydroxypropionyl-CoA to acryloyl-CoA. Propionyl-CoA synthase (E.C. 6.2.1.-, E.C. 4.2.1.- and E.C. 1.3.1.-) also converts 3-hydroxypropionyl-CoA to acryloyl-CoA (AAL47820, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31). Acrylate CoA-transferase (R. eutropha pct) (E.C. 2.8.3.n) generates acrylate+acetyl-CoA from acryloyl-CoA and acetate.

Example 14: Conversion of Formaldehyde to Central Metabolic Intermediates by Lysates of Recombinant E. coli Cells

The hexulose-6-phosphate isomerase (HPS) enzyme YP_115430 and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI) enzyme YP_115431 were recoded for expression in E. coli using the algorithm described in [00110] above and/or elsewhere in the present application. Briefly, the algorithm attempts to (a) preserve codon rank order frequency in the source organism (Methylococcus capsulatus) and the target organism (E. coli); (b) eliminate undesired restriction endonuclease recognition sequences in the re-coded gene sequence; and (c) avoid undesired DNA or RNA secondary structure in the re-coded gene or its transcript. The resulting nucleotide sequences are provided as SEQ ID NO:47 and SEQ ID NO:48, respectively. The codon-optimized genes were obtained via commercial gene synthesis.

Plasmids encoding a high copy number replication origin, an antibiotic resistance marker and either a codon-optimized hexulose-6-phosphate isomerase from M. capsulatus under the control of a constitutive promoter or a codon-optimized 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase from M. capsulatus were constructed using DNA assembly methods described in WO/2010/07025. The resulting plasmids 9463 (SEQ ID NO:63) and 9462 (SEQ ID NO:64) were transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques.

E. coli NEB10β cells harboring plasmid 9463 were grown overnight with selection in Luria Broth (LB) medium containing 20 g L⁻¹ of xylose. In parallel, E. coli NEB10β cells harboring plasmid 9462 were grown overnight with selection in Luria Broth (LB) medium containing 20 g L⁻¹ of xylose.

Both E. coli cultures were harvested by centrifugation, and cell pellets were lysed by resuspension in 0.1 culture volumes of a buffer containing DNAse I (8 U mL⁻¹), lysozyme (>1 mg mL⁻¹), dithioerythritol (0.5 mM), and Tris buffer (20 mM, pH 7.5) followed by rapid freeze-thaw (3 cycles using liquid nitrogen and at warm water bath). Lysates were clarified by centrifugation for 5 min at >4000 g.

The lysates were mixed by combining 20 μL of each into the well of a standard 96-well flat-bottom assay plate. The plate was incubated at 30 C. In parallel, lysates from E. coli cultures expressing a metabolically inert gfp gene as a negative control were prepared in an identical fashion. “Blank” lysates made from the lysis reagent only—i.e. with no cells—were also included as a control.

A reaction mixture was added to the lysates or lysate mixtures at time zero so that the final volume in the well was 200 μL and the final concentration of (non-lysate derived) reactants was: coenzyme A, 0.5 mM; adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 10 mM; ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru5P), 1 mM; nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), 1 mM; magnesium sulfate, 5 mM; potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, >150 mM; formaldehyde; 5 mM. The formaldehyde stock solution was previously prepared by autoclaving 240 mg of paraformaldehyde powder suspended in 8 mL of pure water at 121 C in a sealed septum vial until it was solubilized.

In parallel, a separate reaction mixture was prepared with an identical composition, except that ¹³C-enriched paraformaldehyde (>99% isotopic purity; Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Massachusetts USA) was used as a formaldehyde source.

At 0 minutes, 30 minutes, and 120 minutes after the start of the enzyme reactions, 40 μL of the reaction mixture was withdrawn from the assay plate and mixed with 160 μL of a quenching solution consisting of 0.1 M formic acid in 40% v/v methanol, 40% v/v acetonitrile, and 20% v/v water. Samples were vacuum-aspirated to dryness in preparation for detection by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) of fructose-6-phosphate pool sizes and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate pool sizes.

LC-ESI-MS analysis was carried out on a Thermo Q-Exactive LC-ESI-MS system capable of mass determination to within 5 ppm. Metabolites were eluted from a 100-by-2.1 mm hybrid reverse-phase chromatography column with 2.6 μm beads (Accucore aQ, Thermo Scientific) with a linear gradient consisting of 15 mM acetic acid in ultrapure water as the weak solvent and methanol as the strong solvent and introduced to the mass spectrometer via a HESI-III ESI source. Elution and column reequilibration was carried out under uPLC conditions at a flow rate of 500 μL/min and total run time of 7 minutes using an Accela 1250 uPLC pump and Accela Open AS autosampler. During autosampling, samples were maintained at 4 C, while the column was kept at 30 C. ESI source and mass spectrometer acquisition settings were optimized and operated in both negative and positive polarities, using a panel of pure standards of metabolites of interest. Full MS scans were performed at a resolution of 70,000 over a mass range of 70-900 m/z, allowing for a minimum of 15-20 scans across each extracted ion chromatogram for absolute and relative quantitation under uPLC conditions. When needed, tandem MS/MS scans were also performed in both targeted and data dependent schemes to obtain additional structural information via HCD-induced fragmentation of intact precursor ions. Metabolite feature identification and full scan quantitation were performed using integration and alignment algorithms in Xcalibur (Thermo) and XCMS (Scripps Research Institute).

Fructose-6-phosphate was detected in negative mode as the C₆H1₂09P⁻ anion at m/z=259.0224 Da+/−5 ppm. The M+1 ¹³C isotopologue of fructose-6-phosphate (1-¹³C-F6P) was detected at m/z=260.0258 Da+/−5 ppm. A time course showing incorporation of carbon derived from formaldehyde into fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) is shown in Table 9. The time is in units of minutes and the metabolites are in units of peak area (counts). H¹²CHO denotes formaldehyde and H¹³CHO denotes ¹³C-enriched paraformaldehyde. The results shows that carbon from formaldehyde is converted to the native E. coli metabolite fructose-6-phosphate in an HPS and PHI-dependent manner.

TABLE 9 HPS- and PHI-dependent conversion of formaldehyde (H¹²CHO) to fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) with H¹²CHO with H¹³CHO with no formaldehyde Time F6P 1-¹³C-F6P F6P 1-¹³C-F6P F6P 1-¹³C-F6P HPS/PHI 0 2.6E+06 NF 1.0E+06 2.0E+06 6.1E+05 NF mixture 30 4.9E+07 4.1E+06 4.4E+06 4.7E+07 6.0E+06 2.9E+05 120 3.1E+07 2.0E+06 5.3E+06 2.7E+07 2.5E+07 3.1E+06 GFP control 0 3.4E+05 NF 4.0E+05 NF 4.5E+05 NF lysate 30 1.1E+06 NF 1.1E+06 NF 1.7E+06 NF 120 2.9E+06 NF 2.8E+06 1.2E+04 5.2E+06 NF

Example 15: Conversion of Formate to Formyl-CoA in Lysates Derived from Recombinant E. coli Cells Expressing Acetyl-CoA Synthetase

The E. coli acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) enzyme AAC77039 was re-coded using the algorithm described in [00110] above, and/or elsewhere in the present application, to eliminate undesired restriction endonuclease recognition sequences in the re-coded gene sequence and avoid undesired DNA or RNA secondary structure in the re-coded gene or its transcript. The resulting nucleotide sequences is provided as SEQ ID NO:61. The codon-optimized gene was obtained via commercial gene synthesis.

A plasmid encoding a medium copy number replication origin, an antibiotic resistance marker and the recoded acetyl-CoA synthetase from E. coli under the control of an rrnB-derived constitutive promoter was constructed using DNA assembly methods described in WO/2010/07025. The resulting plasmid 20566 (SEQ ID NO:65) was transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques.

E. coli cells harboring plasmid 20566 were grown in culture and lysed by the methods described in Example 14. Lysate-based enzyme reactions were started as described in Example 14, except that sodium formate 30 mM was used in place of formaldehyde and 30 mM of sodium ¹³C-formate (>99 atom % isotopic purity; Cambridge Isotope Laboratories) was used in place of ¹³C formaldehyde.

Samples were withdrawn for LC-ESI-MS analysis as described in Example 14.

Formyl-coenzyme A (formyl-CoA) was detected in negative mode as the C₂₂H3₅N₇O₁₇P₃S⁻ anion at m/z=794.1028 Da. The M+1 ¹³C isotopologue of formyl-CoA (1-¹³C-formyl-CoA) was detected at m/z=795.1062 Da. Total counts detected for the m/z=794.1028 ion increased sharply in a time in reaction mixtures to which sodium formate 30 mM (H¹²COO) was added. Total counts detected for the m/z=795.1062 ion increased sharply in time only in reaction mixtures to which sodium 30 mM ¹³C-formate (H¹³COO⁻) was added. In control reactions using lysates from cells not expressing acs, no corresponding increases were observed. In control reactions using lysis buffer and no cellular material, no corresponding increase was observed. The data are shown in Table 10. The time is in units of minutes and the metabolites are in units of peak area (counts). Formyl-CoA is denoted by f-CoA and the M+1 ¹³C isotopologue of formyl-CoA is denoted by 1-¹³C-f-CoA. The results demonstrate that formate was converted to formyl-CoA in a formate- and ACS-dependent manner.

TABLE 10 ACS-dependent conversion of formate to formyl-CoA with H¹²COO⁻ with H¹³COO⁻ with no formate Time f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA Plasmid 0 2.0E+08 5.9E+07 1.5E+08 4.5E+07 4.5E+07 1.0E+09 20566 30 2.6E+08 6.9E+07 5.5E+07 7.5E+07 1.7E+08 4.6E+07 lysate 120 1.3E+09 3.7E+08 4.5E+07 1.0E+09 7.9E+07 2.1E+07 GFP 0 2.0E+08 5.6E+07 1.5E+08 4.4E+07 1.7E+08 4.9E+07 control 30 2.0E+08 5.6E+07 1.5E+08 4.5E+07 1.4E+08 3.9E+07 lysate 120 1.8E+08 4.8E+07 1.4E+08 4.4E+07 1.5E+08 4.2E+07

Example 16: Interconversion of Formyl-CoA and Formaldehyde by Lysates Derived from Recombinant E. coli Cells Expressing an Acylating Aldehyde Dehydrogenase

The Listeria monocytogenes acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, acylating (ADH) enzyme NP_464704 was recoded for expression in E. coli using the algorithm described in [00110] and Example 14 above, and/or elsewhere in the present application. The resulting nucleotide sequences is provided as SEQ ID NO:62.

A plasmid encoding a high copy number replication origin, an antibiotic resistance marker and the recoded ADH under the control of an isopropyl 3-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible bacteriophage T7-based promoter was designed by us and synthesized via commercial gene synthesis. The resulting plasmid 27439 (SEQ ID NO:66) was transformed into E. coli using standard plasmid transformation techniques.

Cells were grown as described in Example 14, except that after 2 hr of incubation in the overnight growth medium, 1 mM of IPTG was added to induce gene expression.

Lysates were prepared and reactions were initiated as described in Example 14, except (i) that ATP and ribulose-5-phosphate were omitted from the reaction and (ii) time point samples were taken after 0, 3, and 10 minutes after starting the reactions.

Formyl-CoA was detected as described in Example 15. Total counts detected for the m/z=794.1028 ion increased sharply in time in reaction mixtures to which formaldehyde 5 mM was added. Total counts detected for the m/z=795.1062 ion increased sharply with time only in reaction mixtures to which ¹³C formaldehyde 5 mM was added. In control reactions using lysates from cells that were not induced to express ADH, no corresponding increases were observed. LC-ESI-MS detection of both NAD⁺ and NADH (in negative mode using m/z=662.1018 and m/z=664.1175, respectively) confirmed that formyl-CoA formation was linked to NAD⁺ depletion and NADH formation (data not shown). The data are shown in Table 11. The time is in units of minutes and the metabolites are in units of peak area (counts). Formyl-CoA is denoted by f-CoA, and the M+1 ¹³C isotopologue of formyl-CoA is denoted by 1-¹³C-f-CoA. The results show that ADH expressed in E. coli lysates effects the interconversion of formaldehyde and NAD⁺ with formyl-CoA and NADH.

TABLE 11 ADH-dependent interconversion of formaldehyde and formyl-CoA with H¹²CHO with H¹³CHO with no formaldehyde Time f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA f-CoA 1-¹³C-f-CoA induced 0 5.3E+06 NF NF NF 4.5E+05 NF 3 9.2E+07 2.3E+07 NF 4.4E+07 1.0E+06 NF 10 1.7E+08 4.4E+07 NF 1.1E+08 NF NF uninduced 0 NF NF 3 2.9E+06 NF 10 NF NF

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The examples have focused on E. coli. Nevertheless, the key concept of using genetically engineering to convert a heterotroph into an engineered chemoautotroph is extensible to other, more complex organisms such as other prokaryotic or eukaryotic single cell organisms such as E. coli or S. cerevisiae, hosts suitable for scale up during fermentation, archaea, plant cells or cell lines, mammalian cells or cell lines, or insect cells or cell lines. Alternatively, the same energy conversion, carbon fixation and/or carbon product biosynthetic pathways described here may be used to enhance or augment the autotrophic capability of an organism that is natively autotrophic.

Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

EQUIVALENTS

The present invention provides among other things novel methods and systems for synthetic biology. While specific embodiments of the subject invention have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The full scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents and patent applications referenced in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application were specifically indicated to be so incorporated by reference.

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1. A method of making a chemoautotrophic cell, the method comprising steps of: engineering an energy conversion pathway comprising a recombinant formate dehydrogenase or a recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase; wherein the energy conversion pathway transfers energy from an extracellular inorganic energy source to a reducing cofactor, and engineering a carbon fixation pathway that utilizes a reducing cofactor to convert inorganic carbon to a reduced organic carbon molecule.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion pathway comprises an enzyme exogenous to the cell.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion pathway consists essentially of enzymes exogenous to the cell.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion pathway comprises an enzyme that is endogenous to the cell
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the enzyme is modified.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon fixation pathway comprises an enzyme exogenous to the cell.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon fixation pathway consists essentially of enzymes exogenous to the cell.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon fixation pathway comprises an enzyme that is endogenous to the cell
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the enzyme is modified.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon fixation pathway is synthesized from a pathway comprising one or more of 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HPA) bicycle, ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) cycle, Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or the reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle, and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracellular inorganic energy source comprises one or more of formate, formic acid, methane, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfide anion, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, molecular hydrogen, ferrous iron, ammonia, cyanide ion, and hydrocyanic acid.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing cofactor comprises one or more of NADH, NADPH, ubiquinol, menaquinol, cytochromes, flavins and ferredoxin.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the reduced organic carbon molecule comprises one or more of acetyl-coA, pyruvate, pyruvic acid, 3-hydropropionate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, glycolate, glycolic acid, glyoxylate, glyoxylic acid, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, malate, malic acid, lactate, lactic acid, acetate, acetic acid, citrate, and citric acid.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of engineering a carbon biosynthetic pathway that produces an organic carbon molecule derived from a reduced organic carbon molecule.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the derived organic carbon molecule comprises one or more of alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives, fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, wax esters, hydrocarbons, alkanes, polymers, fuels, commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, carotenoids, isoprenoids, sugars, sugar phosphates, central metabolites, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical intermediates.
 16. A method of making an organic carbon molecule using a chemoautotrophic cell, the method comprising steps of: growing a chemoautotrophic cell in a culture medium, wherein the cell comprises an engineered energy conversion pathway comprising a recombinant formate dehydrogenase or a recombinant sulfide-quinone oxidoreductase; wherein the energy conversion pathway converts an extracellular inorganic energy source to a reducing cofactor, and wherein the engineered carbon fixation pathway utilizes a reducing cofactor to convert inorganic carbon to a reduced organic carbon molecule.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the extracellular inorganic energy source comprises one or more of formate, formic acid, methane, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfide anion, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, molecular hydrogen, ferrous iron, ammonia, cyanide ion, and hydrocyanic acid.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the reducing cofactor comprises one or more of NADH, NADPH, ubiquinol, menaquinol, cytochromes, flavins and ferredoxin.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the reduced organic carbon molecule comprises one or more of acetyl-coA, pyruvate, pyruvic acid, 3-hydropropionate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, glycolate, glycolic acid, glyoxylate, glyoxylic acid, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, malate, malic acid, lactate, lactic acid, acetate, acetic acid, citrate, and citric acid.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the cell further comprises a carbon biosynthetic pathway. 